HUTT R.S.A. CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 147, 19 December 1944, Page 4

HUTT R.S.A. CLUB

PETONE COUNCIL'S STAND A letter was received from the Hutt Valley branch of the R.S.A. by the Petone Borough Council last evening requesting the council to allow its Mayor, in perpetuity, to be a trustee of the proposed R.S.A. clubrooms to be erected at Lower Hutt. Some exception was taken by Councillor J. T. Carr to the tone of the letter, which accused the council'of taking up "a parochial attitude." Councillor J. I-luggatv moved that the council agree to the request oi" the R.S.A., which he considered was offered as an honour to Petone. There would be a number of Petone residents financially supporting the proposal, and it was fitting that ,the Mayor' should represent these on the " board of trustees. Councillor A. M. Macfarlane seconded the motion. It had not been decided that the hall # should be a memorial, which had been the objection of the Mayor. The-request was really a tribute to Petone. The Mayor said it was unfortunate that the question of a memorial hall had been attached to tne proposal otherwise he would have favoured it. Councillor J. T. Carr said he had not altered his opinidn that the building would be "a white elephant" and the money spent would be wasted. If the' council agreed with the request it would be giving official sanction to the scheme, which he considered was wrong. Councillor yr. Jacobson questioned if the council had power to. appoint its Mayor in perpetuity. If the council appointed the Mayor it would officially recognise the scheme. Councillor R. A. Anderson supported the motion, which, he said did not bind Petone to make contributions. Councillor F. K. London said thai Defore considering the social needs of returned men the R.S.A. and the public should bo assisting returned men to get homes. The motion was lost, being supported only by Councillors Huggan. Macfarlane, and Anderson.