Compulsory Service, But No Reds Wanted

Northern Advocate, 17 May 1949, Page 3

Compulsory Service, But No Reds Wanted

Whangarei RSA Branch Votes UnanimousSy

COMPULSORY military training and Communistic infiltration into the ranks of the RSA were dealt with at the 24th annual general meeting of the Whangarei Returned Services Association held last night. The meeting, which was well attended, reached unanimous decision on both points—strongly in favour of compulsory military training, and equally strongly opposed to Communists in the ranks.

The Northland representative on the Dominion executive of the NZRSA (Mr K. W. R. Glasgow) attended the meeting to inform members of latest developments in Wellington on the two major issues and to answer queries on patriotic and - canteen funds. It was decided that a special meeting should be called to appoint a committee to deal with the club project,

which entails building additions and modernising the existing building at the back of the RSA bowling green. Mr J. W. Parkin objected to the executive’s proposal that membership of the Whangarei branch of the RSA would mean automatic membership of the club and that one subscription should cover both.

Possibly only a quarter of the members of the RSA would use the club, he said, and it should be a separate body, so that those who used it should pay for it. CLUB BUILDING Mr D. B. Haigh pointed out that the bowling club had started from nothing last year and had prospered (another member stating the club's profit to be £TSO) and the social club would do the same. He said that if the line of reasoning that no one would use the club was followed there was no use doing anything at all. Mr Eyles said that the present property was freehold, and he wanted to see it stay that way. The first move was to give members an opportunity to buy their own home before appealing to the general public. The outgoing executive had decided that the reunion as held in the A. & P. building was not satisfactory. To place this function on its prewar standard of popularity it was decided to return to the Town Hall and provide music and items. Every encouragement would be given to the women members to return to the reunion. OFFICERS ELECTED Mr F. C. Eyles was re-elected, amid applause, to the position of president. Mr D. G. Morrison was elected unopposed to the position of vice-presi-dent. The executive for 1949-50 comprises Messrs R. A. Rogers, D. B. Haigh, J. H. Garland, G. M. Clarkson and F. A. W. Judd.

Mr Eyles paid particular tribute to the retiring vice-president (Mr J. D. Gerard), who had been a tower of strength ,to the association, and expressed the hope that he would be able to take an interest in executive affairs at a future date.