NO MIDDLE ROAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 9

NO MIDDLE ROAD

NATIONAL DEFENCE VIEW OF HOMESERVICEMEN “ There is no middle road,” said Mr S. B. Butler, a member of the executive of the Dunedin branch and immediate. past president of the New Zealand Homeservicemen’s Association, when referring to national defence at the annual meeting of the branch last night. The New Zealand Association fully supported Sir Howard Kippenberger in his statement emphasising the need for national service, Mr Butler added. Every applicant for assistance from the Canteen Fund Board was given sympathetic treatment, and each case was judged on its own merits, Mr Butler, who was recently elected deputy chairman of the board, told the meeting. There were priorities to be considered by applicants requesting rehabilitation and housing assistance, but the only qualifications needed by applicants for assistance from the board was a record of service somewhere during hostilities. The increased growth and popularity of' the rifle clubs of the branch and its sub-branches was referred to by several speakers. Mr Butler considered that the clubs provided valuable. weapon training which showed that the branch was uoing its “fair share ” towards defence training. Official representation of the association at the memorial services held to commemorate Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph each November was proposed in a motion by Mr J. T. Laing, which was adopted unanimously, the motion to be placed beiore the Mayor, Sir Donald Cameron, by the incoming executive. Mr A. Chisholm was elected president. Other officers elected were:— Vice-president, Mr W. A. Torrance; treasurer, Mr H. B. Murray; acting secretary, Mr W. R. Gibson; executive— Messrs R. M. Wilkie, S. B. Butler, C. D. Crawford, S. K. Crimp, A. G. Passmore, H. H. Lethaby and Miss I. J. Udy.