EXPELLED FROM R.S.A.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 375, 17 March 1932, Page 9

EXPELLED FROM R.S.A.

Communist Appeals to Headquarters. Mr C. F. Riley, a prominent member of the Communist Party in Christchurch, has been expelled from membership of the Christchurch branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. He has appealed to the Dominion executive of the association against the action of the local executive, which he declares is unconstitutional and a miscarriage of justice. He claims that as he was expelled because of his association with the Communist Party, the association, -which is non-sectarian and non-political, has gone outside of its province in its action. He alleges that his expulsion was decided upon before he had been heard by the executive, and that his case is proof that there is on foot an Empire-wide drive for the ejection of Communists from constitutional bodies. Correspondence With Member. Correspondence which has passed between the association and Mr Riley shows that he was informed on January 14 that his name had been struck off the roll. Two days later he replied asking why he had not been given an opportunity of appearing before the executive, and seeking the rule under which he was expelled. The association's reply, as shown in a letter produced by Mr Riley, was that the main reason for his being struck off the roll was because of his active connection with the Communist Party. A letter dated February 11 gave Mr Riley an opportunity of appearing before the executive on February 22, and the next day he received word that he had been expelled from the association. Official Explanation. “ Any man who distinctly refuses to express loyalty to the King and Empire is not wanted as a member of the association,” stated the president of the Christchurch branch (the Rev F. T. Read) to-day. He said that one of the planks adopted by the general conference in May was loyalty to the King and Empire. Twice he had asked Mr Riley whether he would give such a promise of loyalty, and in both cases the reply was in the negative. The association was non-sectarian and nonpolitical, and it did not matter to what political organisation a member belonged as long as he was jvilling to be loyal to the King and Empire. It was not true that Mr Riley had been expelled before he had been given a hearing.