R.S.A. PRESIDENCY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1943, Page 2

R.S.A. PRESIDENCY

MR PERRY RESIGNS WELLINGTON, July 15. Conseauent on his appointment to the War* Cabinet as Minister of . the Armed Forces and War Co-ordina-tion, Hon. W. Perry attended a recent meeting of the Dominion Executive Committee of the R.S.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 non-party political plank of the Association’s constittition, as the appointment was to the War Cabinet, not the domestic Cabinet. It was felt, however, that as the appointment was one that would occupy all Mr Perry’s energies, and that he should be entirely free and unfettered to devote his full time and talents to the interests of the country, it would not be advisable for him 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 Perry lias been connected with the executive since 1919 and Dominion President for the past eight years. The Dominion Executive feels his appointment to the War Cabinet is not only a well-deserved personal honour but an honour 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 legal practitioner, and has been vicepresident since 1935. He has been president of the Palmerston Branch ever since its formation.

His place as Dominion vice-presi-dent has been taken by Mr C. O. Bell (Wellington), who has been a member of the Dominion Executive since 1939 and is chairman of the Pensions Sub-committee. In 1937, he succeeded Colonel Mitchell as chairman of the Wellington Branch of the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-establish-ment League, and is now vice-presi-dent of the New Zealand Executive of that body. He is the Crown representative on No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board.