R.S.A. PRESIDENTSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 24917, 15 July 1943, Page 4

R.S.A. PRESIDENTSHIP

HON. W. PERRY RESIGNS RELEASED FOR WAR CABINET DUTIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 15. Consequent on his appointment to the War Cabinet as Minister of the' Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, the Hon. W. Perry attended a recent meeting of the Dominion Executive Committee of the 8.5. A., and said he thought it would be in the best interests of the R.S.A. and the country that he should retire from the ■ presidency, but he left the question unreservedly in their hands. The matter was fully discussed, and it was agreed that the_ appointment did not in any way infringe the nonparty political plank of. the association's constitution, as the appointment was to the War Cabinet and not the domestic Cabinet. It was felt, however, that as the appointment was one that would occupy all Mr Perry's energies, and he should be entirely free and unfettered *o devote his full time and talents to the interests of the country, it would not be advisable for hiui to continue in the position of president of the association.

For these reasons, and with his concurrence, it was agreed with regret that he retire from the position of president. Mr Perrv has been connected with the executive since 1919, and Dominion president for the past eight years. The Dominion Executive' feels that his appointment to the War Cabinet is not only a well-deserved personal honour, but an honuor to the New Zealand Returned Services' Association. Mr B. J. Jacobs (Palmerston North) has been appointed to succeed Mr Perry as president. He is a well-known legal practitioner, and has been vice-presi-dent since 1935. He has been president of the Palmerston North branch ever since its formation. His place as Dominion vice-president has been taken by Mr CO. Bell (Wellington). Mr Bell has been a. member of the Dominion Executive since 1939. and is chairman-of the Pensions Sub-commit-tee. In 1938 he succeeded Colonel Mitchell as chairman of the Wellington branch of the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League. _ and is now vice-president of the New Zealand Executive of that body. He is the Crown representative on the Number'l Armed Forces Appeal Board.