CLUB CONTROL

NZ Truth, Issue 602, 30 December 1916, Page 6

CLUB CONTROL

I Returned Soldiers' Demands I Clash of Interest at Christchurch (From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) Whatever the present Government may be dolng^ for the benefit of the soldiers, certain remarks passed m Christchurch last week at a meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association, makesjt appear that our boys who have done their bit for the Empire do not intend to build, castles on the promises made concerning their future -welfare.' The' chairman or the Association, which was called together for the purpose of discussing matters m connection with the local club rooms, remarked* that the Association would be specially necessary after viho war, when the services rendered by soldiers WOULD BE FORGOTTEN, and when there would be: a strong j tendency to retrench on the soldiers' 1 pensions. There was at present, he said, the strongest necessity for keep- j ing a keen eye on the Government and its' dealings with returned s|6ldl6rs. Whether or not the Association is looking too far ahead m that respect is a matter of opinion, but it is, never-, tholess, pleasing to see that the Christchurch branch does not intend to take the chance of an eleventh-hour crusade against . returned; soldiers' rights being tampered with, if ever such an attempt is made byvthe Government. Further, Association ; seems to be fully alive to the necessity of holding its own reins, rather than have a civilian association sharing Its constitution and deiibcratons. Originally, the Citizens' Defence Corps, which has done excellent service for soldiers since the. outbreak of war, inaugurated a club for returned soldiers and the affair was highly successful while Christchurch contained only a limited number of men entitled to wear tho red armlet Since then, however, the number of returned soldiers m Christchurch has increased to proportions quite largo enough to justify the /Association m cutting out from the civilian Association and shaping its own destiny. The trend of the discussion was on the lines or that nature at the meeting the other night, when the Association, while thoroughly appreciating the good work of tho C.D.C., mentioned a conference which had taken place between the Returned Soldiers' Association, tho C.D.C., and the Patriotic Fund Committee, favoring the Association being allowed to" control its club rooms. AcUugr on the doclslon, and anticipating that the Association would be vested with THE CONTROL OF THE CLUB, It secured admirable premises m Glou-cester-street. The Citizens' Defonco Corps, which held the funds, entered into the lease with tho Association, and then proposed that the rooms should bo controlled by six members of tho Returned Soldiers' AsHoclation. six members of tho CD.C. and a civilian chairman. Thero was then a deadlock between the R.S.A. and the C.D.C., the latter refusing to hand over premises provided by public money, for tho use of rm Association which charged a subscription Toe. The Association then offered to buy out tho CD.C. interest m tho new rooms, but that offer was also refused. Further negotiations ensued, and tho CD.C. appointed a sub-committee, which, however, was not authorised to confer with tho Returned Soldiers' Association, and eventually th* Association sent atong an ultimatum asking cither for the full right of control or an opportunity to buy the club rooms. In reply, tho CD.C, Js said to havo forwarded tho Association an irrelevant report from its sub-committee. After the meeting lengthily discussed the mutter, It was dooldod to write tho CD.C. with v view to ascertaining if any way could bo found out of the difficulty between tho two bodies. It is to the credit of tho returned men that they fully appreciate tho fact that tho public money necessary to put the club on its feet, Js heJd m trust by tho CD.C, whoso demand for equal representation on tho club ; committee la presumably insisted upon, only In order that the CD.C. nitty fulfil ] its tTust by watching tho money being \ ypronvrly expended. It i» questionable nevertheless, whether tho public would ' rave, so readily (subscribed the money i had It known that tho returned soldlcru would be, ho heartily opposed to ' civilian Joint directorship as appears to bo tho case. But, seeing that the soldiers consider that they have a bettor opportunity ot SAFEGUARDING THEIR JNTERKSTS under a Bystgm of self-government, than would obviously be tho case If civilians wltn llio same vott> shun-d In the administration of a club which w to bind Dies soldiers together into un association, too formidable to put up with Government suUiy-shallylntr. it would be In keeping with the times if the returned men lit Clirtstchurcti und Canterbury orKunlsed a Httlo collecting campaign on their own behalf. The Afisoclation has sugKCflted thac the time for nuch n campaign is not opportune; but if tho CD.C. ea» scrntch £1000 togr«uher In an afternoon, within a. month frum Christmas, tho rot timed soldier* frhould, by decent organisation, be abU> to touch ov |>a»s lhat fljjurc, jsnd provide the initUl »»xp<«»j»o ot a | club which afterwards could bo «up- | ported by tho avsbscrJuilons of its own j members.