Dominion Executive Declines to Support R.S.A. Clubroom Project

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26848, 12 August 1948, Page 3

Dominion Executive Declines to Support R.S.A. Clubroom Project

NORTH OTAGO NEWS

Advice that the executive committee of the N.Z.R.S.A. could not support the representations of the Oamaru R.S.A. for a permit to build club rooms was received at the monthly meeting of the Oamaru R.S.A. on Tuesday night. The New Zealand association advised that the chairman of the Rehabilitation Housing sub-committee, after a discussion with the secretary of the Cabinet committee, had brought the matter before the Dominion Executive committee and it was resolved that the Oamaru association be informed of the N.Z.R.S.A. policy in connection with the granting of permits for club rooms.

Mr X. T. Catto was in the chair and there were also present Messrs R. E. Dimick, B Allan, j. P. McLeod, E. Cameron, I. Oats, E. H. Freeman, J. A. Stenhouse, J. M. Macaulay, A. C. Watson, and C. Zimmermann. Mr Macaulay said that material and labour used in the construction of houses would not be used for the building of tne clubrooms and that the Oamaru association was acting with the approval of the Cabinet Building Committee. Mr Zimmerman said the Oamaru association was to some extent flaunting vhe written policy of the New Zealand asso-ciation-in going on with the scheme, but the executive represented 1500 members and if their wishes were not carried out members of the executive might as well resign. The Government had a committee of experts who said the association could build club rooms. Mr Zimmermann moved that the association carry on with the building of clubrooms irrespective of the letter received from the New Zealand association in respect to its policy. “Legally we have a right to build and we should'make an endeavour to see who is poking around with these people, Mr Allan said "when you get two different statements from two different bodies there must be something strange.” , Mr Allan said the association had to face up to things. He had made a few inquiries from servicemen''in respect to clubrooms, some being of the opinion that these should be gone ahead with, while a fair percentage who had no homes did not want them. “It may take five years to build the clubrooms,” he added, and we should seriously consider temporary clubrooms with which to carry on.’ Mr Macaulay: It is my opinion we should get on with the job, but we could advertise and make known the fact that we are looking for temporary- clubrooms. Mr Dimick expressed -the opinion that the time was not opportune to go ahead with buildings. They had between £II,OOO and £12,000 to spend and it was their duty to spend it to advantage. . In two years time it might be possible to have the job completed within a year, but if a start was made now it might take four or five vears to build and the association would be frittering away its money. Mr Cameron suggested that nothing further could be done until the associations Building Sub-committee met and discussed. the proposal. . . The matter was finally referred to the Building Sub-committee to bring down a report, and it was decided to call this meeting immediately.