R.S.A. CLUB ROOMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26584, 6 October 1947, Page 3

R.S.A. CLUB ROOMS

ORIGINAL SITE ABANDONED TEMPORARY PREMISES SOUGHT By a big majority, with the voting about 80 to 30, the members of the Oamaru R.S.A. at the quarterly meeting on Saturday night rescinded the resolution to build clubrooms on the Meek street site. A motion to empower the executive to lease premises for temporary clubrooms was carried almost unanimously, and a motion referring the question of securing another site for clubrooms to the executive for immediate investigation was also carried. In accordance with notice given, Mr F. A. Bremner moved that the resolution, instructing the executive to carry on with the building of clubrooms in Meek street be rescinded. Mr Bremner stated that he considered the cost of the foundations was too great, and the association should spend the money subscribed by the public wisely The environment in Meek street was not desirable, with back 'yards of business premises on one side and a ditch on the other. The War Memorial Committee had produced a plan for the development of Takaro Park, with a new civic road taking up part of the site. There had been a lack of unanimity of opinion on the site, he said, and while it was some considerable time since the site -was decided upon, nothing had been done. The motion was seconded by Mr C. J. Nisbet. Need for Club Rooms. Mr R. E. Dimick opposed the motion because for the past two general meetings members had been in favour of the Meek street site, which was accessible and central. What better building could thej» have than club rooms in the plan for the development of the park? he asked. The creek could be piped in, and they should not relinquish the site. Nothing had been done because the lease of the site had to be validated by Parliament, and the Bill was before Parliament now. A long discussion followed on the questions of costs of foundations and the tests made of the nature of the made-up ground, the estimate quoted being £I9OO for club rooms and social hall, and the average depth of made-up ground being given as 15 feet. Finally the motion was carried on a show of hands by a big majority. . Mr N. H Colquhoun moved, m accordance with notice given, that the executive be empowered to lease premises as temporary club rooms. He said housing had first priority, and it would be three to five years before they could build club rooms, and it was only right that in that period provision should be made for exservicemen, especially those from the country, to meet and rest. He had been advised by two solicitors and an auditor that the interest on the funds raised for club rooms could be used for temporarj premises. If they turned do ' vnhl = mot i" l : Mr Colquhoun said,* they said in effect that thev did not want club roonis. Mr F. Newell seconded the motion. One member remarked that they were no further advanced than when they started, and they were going the right way that night to smash the R.o.A. ( Mr E M. Freeman opposed the motion and quoted the temporary club rooms after World War I, which died a natural death. He suggested that ’ the interest on the £II,OOO collected could be used to better purpose to increase their asset. They could ex--pcct a Government grant of about £ 2000, which would leave only £IOOO to be raised to reach the estimate of £14,000 required for club rooms. Here again considerable discussion took plfce and finally the motion was carried almost unanimously, only five or six VO Th(f question 'of an alternative site to Meek street was raised by Mr J- Graharm who said the public would think the R.S.A. members did not know their own m on S behalf of the R.S.A. Bowling Club. Mr J. D Forbes said a site for a green had been selected in Itchen street, where there was ample room for club rooms. Thev would welcome the suggestion that tne club rooms should.be built alongside the green. Appeal by the Mayor Mr R. E. Dimick suggested that the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills building might be available for temporary club rooms. There was ample room at the back, he sat . Lor h bowling green. . . ~ The Mayor, Mr J. C. Kirkness, said that building was not yet vested m the municipality, and there was not room for a ar.-en as the greater part of the land had been set aside for a ' community centre site in the plan for the development of Takaro Park as a war memorial. He made a plea to members to have the Club rooms and green together, as it they could do so they would be doing something worthwhile for the R.»-A. Mr I. R. Catto, who presided, said every member should consider what was for the ultimate good of the association as a whole They should try and keep together all activities if possible The question of a site for club rooms was referred to the executive for immediate investigation. The secretary, Mr A. C. Piper, reported on the assistance received from the Rea Cross, McKenzie Trust, Canteen Board, and others in giving relief where needed to soldiers and their dependents. Last vear £538 9s 8d had been spent on relief, as well as new clothing given, and the Patriotic Committee had brought before their notice cases for assistance and had made substantial grants, and in addition, many pensions had been obtained for returned men