R.S.A. BUILDING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 24, 28 July 1943, Page 3

R.S.A. BUILDING

PATRIOTIC GRANT

DECLINED BY COMMITTEE A deputation from the Wellington R.S.A., headed by Colonel C. H. Western, K.C., General W. H. Cunningham, and the secretary, Mr. L. W. Woolley, recently asked that a grant [of £5000 should be made, from patriotic welfare funds for the furnishing of the R.S.A. club room and offices, the building itself being paid for by the association's funds. Today the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Committee declined the request, but agreed that a large-scale raffle might be held in the Wellington district. The chairman, Mr. Hislop, spoke strongly in favour of acceding to the request, pointing out that because of Wellington's position as Capital a large number of men came to have their affairs determined, throwing much additional work upon the Wellington R.S.A. Service clubs did not meet the position, and after the war they would disappear, though the problems of returned men would long continue. The need here was special and important. The R.S.A. even in Auckland or Christchurch was not in the same position as in Wellington, said Mr. E. C. Hale (Wellington). A grant could very properly be made from the welfare account for the facilities, and would prevent a good many men from falling into circumstances as a result of which they w6uld be a direct charge upon welfare funds. It was true, said Mr. Hale, that the R.S.A. had substantial welfare funds of its own, but no matter what other provision might be made for assistance of returned men there still would be many cases where the association alone could give the assistance needed. Mr. J. W. Andrews (Lower Hutt) said that a strong case had been made for Wellington, but other centres could put forward equally strong claims. Lower Hutt could certainly do so, and would, if the grant to Wellington was approved, make application for £2500 towards its own building fund. . "CONSIDERABLY EXAGGERATED." Mr. N. Bain (Wanganui) said that he thought the importance of R.S.A. club rooms had been considerably exaggerated. After the last war some had proved of negative value and now had fallen out of existence. Instead of the R.S.A. laying out . enormous sums of money, could not the R.S.A. take over one or other of the service clubs which would not be required after the war? He thought also that the necessity for men to come to Wellington had also been exaggerated, for assistance would be given through the State Advances and Social Security branches, established throughout the country. Mr. P. W. Goldsmith (Levin) said that if a grant were made to Wellington all centres would be entitled to" make a claim. It would not be right to divert money from the welfare account, which was not, in the opinion of the National Patriotic Fund Board, adequate to meet future needs, said Mr. G. T. O'Hara Smith (Masterton). Mr. Hislop's motion that a • grant should be made was supported when the vote was taken by himself and Mr. Hale only. All were in favour of a raffle being permitted.