BRUNNER R.S.A. MEETING

Grey River Argus, 20 April 1948, Page 2

BRUNNER R.S.A. MEETING

■At the annual meeting of the Brunper R.S.A.; Mr R. Lee presided over a good attendance. - In presenting his report, the president stated tnat the financial nosi.tion of. the branch was very satisfactory. and that a considerable amount had been, repaid from its building loan. He also said that during the year, the branch, with a great public spirited gesture, • had ensured the futpre goodwill of the district by renting its. rooms to. the local Workingmen’s Club, and that it was to be regretted that some , members of the R.S.A. were not as public spirited as the majority fortunately were. He failed to see how, if the R.S.A. was not prepared to put its weight behind local public activities, they could make appeals to the same public foy support. He further stated that he viewed with concern, the attitude of the New Zealand Executive towards conscription and its growing tendency to interfere in politics. He pointed out that the • R.S.A. was non-sec-tarian and non-pplitical and recommended that the incoming executive do its utmost to ensure that the country’s young manhood be spared the horrors of war rather than be condemned to it. Thanks were tendered toj all those who had assisted the R.S.A. during the year. The election of officers for the following year resulted: —President, Mr R. Lee (re-elected); vice-presi-dents, Messrs J. Kelly (re-elected) and B. G. Bland; secretary, Mr J. Fairman (re-elected)- treasurer, Mr E. Lawson (re-elected) p executive, Messrs D.- Steers, R. Hunt (re-elect-ed), W. Woolhouse (re-elected), G. Neame, T. Neame, N. Finch, R. H. Moth; auditors, /Messrs J. McNeish and T. Nimmo (re-elected). It was decided to attend the Lake Brunner R.S.A. re-union "to be lurid on April 24, and final arrangemmte were made for', the Anzac service to be held, in the. Wallkend Hall at 2.45 p.m. on' Anzac ‘Day. After very lengthy discussion the following remits were passed unanimously:— (1) That this branch of the R.S.A. took exception to the action of the National'Executive of the R.S.A. in recommending to the Government that conscription be brought into force under present 1 conditions. The action was considered to be arbitary in nature and should not have been taken without consultation with the rank and file of the organisation. Members expressed the view that the Government were in the best position to know defence requirements and that the R.S.A. should concentrate its efforts upon maintaining peace rather than creating armies.

(2) That the branch viewed with concern resolutions of a political nature which had been passed by certain sections of the Association. It was their opinion that these resolutions were unconstitutional and if continued would have the effect of turning the organisation info a straight-forward political ' body. If discrimination was a to be exercised against persons of any nolitical nartv it was only just that all political parties should be objected to. Their organisation was a non-political body and they were of the opinion that this status should be maintained.