UPROAR AT MEETING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 9

UPROAR AT MEETING.

AUCKLAND R.S.A. INCIDENT

Bor Bress Association

AUCKLAND, March 23. From orderly beginnings uproar and finally pandemonium developed at a general meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association held in the Auckland Chamber of Com mem* Hall to-night. Attended by about 300 men and a few women, tbe meeting was called for the purpose of hearing the policy explained by 12 exservicemen representing a ticket and standing as candidates for election to office on the executive ol the association. The chairman was Mr C. E. Sliver, secretary of the Avondale Returned Soldiers’ Club, who introduced Air R.. Talbot, leader of the ticket, who will stand for the presidency of the association. Other candidates for the executive were also introduced Air Talbot said his ticket, u elected. proposed to alter the system oi voting for executive members by ballot. which figures proved was most unsatisfactory, 900 out of 3000 members voting on the last occasion. It was planned to hold a function in the Town Hall on the occasion of the election. when lnemliers would place ballot papers in a box at the door and the result would he announced later in the evening. His ticket representatives also favoured the election of two delegates from every club to attend association meetings to eliminate the present policy of the association being controlled hv a small number of men. Supporting their lender, other candidates all spoke briefly. Gradually proceedings been me noisier until the chairman declared the meeting closed, while several prospective questioners were still unheard. Cheers were given for the present executive by one section of the audience and boos by another. Similar exchanges continued until the chairman began to sing “God Save the King,” and all finally accompanied him.' The crowd then dispersed without further incident.