DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23279, 15 August 1945, Page 4

DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED

Government Attitude To Defaulters

"We must take a realistic view of the question of the military defaulters. The R.S.A. has gone as tar as possible. short of invading Parliament with machine-guns.” said Mr G. J. Walker at the quarterly meeting ot members of the South Canterbury R.S.A. last night. "The Government ’has made its decision in the House, which is the proper place for such a decision to have been made. The R.S.A. had previously stated its case, and I clo not think that there is anything more that can be clone."

Introducing the subject. Mr Ross: Eddington said that the R.S.A. should enlist the support of other organisations for its attitude to the defaulter.

The president (Mr Alex. Belli: If anything is done, should it not emanate trom outside of this Association and not from within it? A member: We can stand on our own feet and fight our own battles:

"la spite of the representations made to the Government by the R.S.A., appeal courts are already releasing defaulters from detention.”-said Mr W. G. Tweedy. "The Government is going to ignore the R.S.A. completely.” “To whom can we look for support?” asked another member. A voice: The Bank of New Zealand! “The fate of the military defaulter concerns many people who are wondering what is going to happen.” said Mr J. Scott. "If the R.S.A. drops the question the public will think that we are no longer interested. It seems to me that the present state of affairs is scandalous.” On the motion of Mr Eddington. h was decided to record “great dissatisfaction” with the attitude of the Government.

Mr Tweedy: The Wellington R.S.A told the Government in much stronger terms.