RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 3, 28 September 1921, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

MR. SIEVWRIGHT APOLOGISES A LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN An extraordinary meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association was held last night in tho Town Hall Concert Chainber to consider notice of motion by' Mr. J. M'Kenzie to rescind a motion passed at )a meeting of the association on August 81 last, as follows:— That this meeting, after hearing Mr. Sievwright, records its profound dissatisfaction with the fact that Mr. Sievwright has not seen fit, when challenged ..to justfy the statements which ho asserted as hard facts; and, further, that when challenged to do so he has failed to name the members of the clique which he alleged existed, and has indicated that the matters which he asserted by foay of innuendo are realty libellous if he brought them into the open. Tho president, Mr. W. Perrv, was in tho chair, and some 200 members were present. On the motion of Mr. N. A. Ching, seconded by Mr. A. Hinde, the meeting resolved to take tho discussion in committee. The proceedings in committee lasted for over two hours. Subsequently, on the motion- of Mr. R. B. Bell, seconded bv Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, it was unanimously resolved: That the apology by Mr. Sievwright be accepted by this extraordinary general meeting of the Wellington R.S.A., and that it be a recommendation to the executive of-the association that it take no further action in the matter; end further, that this motion be reported to open meeting and to tho Press, and that it be the only record <ff the proceedings in committee. The business done in committee was confirmed in open meeting. I The apology referred to in the resolution is as follows; — Wellington, September 27, 1921. The chairman, Wellington R.S.A., Dear sir, I hereby withdraw unconditionally, and express my regret for having made the improper accusations, statements, and) innuendoes con'cerning certain responsible officers and members of' the Wellington and other local' associations hffiliated to the N.Z.R.S.A., which are referred to in the written statement dated September 6 1921, made against me by twenty members of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association. f realise that these accusations, ■ statements, and innuendoes were not justified, and I undertake to abstain from a similar course of action in the futtire. ' f further express my regret that my conduct 'has tended to embarrass the Wellington Association and the New Zealand Association in their work, and to bring their members*!nto public disrepute. • \ I may say that I have not. at any time Had anv intention of making accusations, statements, or innuendoes against any officers or members of the Wellington R.S.A. or the N.Z.R.S.A., or of embarrassing ths Wellington R.S.A. or the N.Z.R.S.A., in their work on behalf of returned soldiers, or of bringing their members,into public disrepute. . , ’ Further, I would point out that the end 'for which I have at all times striven has been the welfare and unity of the association. Yours faithfully. (Signed) A. B. SIEVWRIGHT.