DISTURBING TREND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26853, 18 August 1948, Page 6

DISTURBING TREND

R.S.A. SUBSCRIPTIONS EFFECT ON RELIEF WORK Owing to the failure of many members of the Dunedin R.S.A. to pay their subscriptions, inroads had been made in capital in order to maintain relief payments to distressed servicemen, it was stated at a meeting of the R.S.A. Executive last night. A strong financial membership was essential in order to keep the relief work of the association on its present basis. The matter was referred to the General Committee for investigation and appropriate action. .... “I believe there are 3000 outstanding subscriptions, and the reasons for members failing to pay are selfish and 'personal—there has been no sole gain for themselves,” declared Mr D. L. Wood. The subscription of 15s was probably the lowest in the British Empire Of that sum, 5s was for the use of the clubrooms—probably the equal of any in the Empire—and 10s for the work of the association. “The association is most concerned that the membership is falling off, and of its effect on relief cases,” Mr Wood said. “If these members knew about the work the association is doing, they would gladly pay their subscription “ I think that it is no more than thoughtlessness,” said the president Mr A. J. H. Jeavons. “The associa. tion exists only for the purpose of assisting servicemen.” ... Mr K. W. Stewart said that the association must concentrate on impressing upon members the main reason for the association’s existence—to give relief to less fortunate servicemen. Perhaps there were members who had joined the association just to wear the 6adge. “We should try to ram home the good work being done by the association, because I am sure that many do not know,” Mr Stewart added. Referring to the R.S.A. badge, the president said that it carried prestige and honour in the community, and it was open to those defaulting subscribers to give some thought to the corresponding duty which went with the wearing of the badge. The public response to the Poppy Day Appeal showed that the people realised what the R.S.A. was doing m the way of relief, said Mr W. E. Earn shaw, who added that the financial membership had fallen off after the First World War, only to revive later. ' In a subesquent discussion, Mr Wood said that the position of the association’s trust funds had been causing concern to the Relief and Finance Committees. For the 12 months ended on March 31, 1947. the Relief Committee had disbursed £6BOO to needy cases, and during the year ended on March 31. of this year, £6952 had been spent on relief. . ■ “By these sums, the extent of the Dunedin R.S.A.’s relief work can be seen,” Mr Wood said. “ Over the last two years, however, to render these services the committee has been forced to make certain inroads into capital, which cannot continue. “If we can maintain a strong financial membership, this relief work can be kept up,” Mr Wood declared. “ Perhape people do not realise that the committee is giving relief to more servicemen from the Second World War than from the First. We are still a very strong and sound association, but, unless a drive is made to retain membership, relief work will have to be curtailed.”