VINDICATED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 335, 23 September 1932, Page 5

VINDICATED

R.S.A. EXECUTIVE ALLEGATIONS BY NEW MEMBERS PROVE GROUMOLESS SPECIAL MEETING HELD With one solitary "no" an extraordinary general meeting of the Rotorua Returned Soldiers' Assoeiation carried a vote of full confidence in its executive by acclamation last evening after a series of alleged grievances had h.een thrashed out. It may be remembered that some weeks ago a letter was served upon the executive of the Rotorua Returned Soldiers.' Assoeiation ealling for a special meeting alleging dissatisfaction with the executive and its methods and asking for a full discussion to effect reformation methods. The answers given hy the executive were so full and complete that three ugnatories of the letter dissociated themselves from it, whilst others exoressed their satisfaction with the actions of the committee. The speaker for the malcontents, Mr. W. E. Olds, had to he repeatedly ealled to order by the chair, Major* R. Dansey occupied the ihair being supported hy the fol- ■ owing members of the executive: Col. E. Fraser, Dr. S. H- Hay, Messrs 'L G. Gribble, F. Oldham, Weir, Roach, Watson, Mitchell, Brownlie, W. Garth, S. L. Paterson, G. French, rnd the secretary, P. Painton. In opening the proeeedings, the rresident, Major Dansey, warned his uidience that it would be necessary to rdhere strictly to the matter upon vhich the meeting had been called, rnd detailed the steps taken by the sxecutive. He remarked that all the executive vere interested in hearing what the lomplainants had to say since- -they had the welfare of the assoeiation at heart and a few of them had been . triving to keep it afloat for years. Compiaints Detailed After various questions had been put and answered as to the eligibility *;f members, Mr. Gordon detailed four compiaints which may be snmmarised is (a) failing to keep members posth! as to the doingS' of the R.S.A. ; ■'b) failure to extend the soeial side if the association's aetivities; (e) failure to obtain increased allocation of subsidies; (d) failure to hold the neeting at the correct time in ac•ordance with the constitution of the assoeiation. Mr. Gordon made the following uggestions : Regar-ding (a) and (b), bat more frequent general meetings r social evenings be held; (c) that he executive get in touch with tjie ocal bodies and obtain subsidies "rom them for the provision of work n stand-down weeks, In connection with the fourth com•h'int, he admitted that it was tri■;ial. President Replies Major Dansey, dealing with the Irat item, explained that it was not )0 -:-,ible to keep every member posted ut where possible the executive did o. Dealing with the question of rems to the Dominion Conference vhich were no doubt what Mr, Gordon alluded to, these were not really emits but suggestions which had .•een sent forward by an individual aember of the assoeiation who had vrongfully* used the association's lame without its authority. The pealcer had been the delegate to Yellington and had resented the aisuse of the association's name. ^ealing with the remits or suggestions the president explained that each of ,hese had been unnecessary. Major Dansey then detailed the ef?orts which had been made in Welington to obtain assistance and "hich had resulted in the assoeiation etting a far larger allocation than he majority of places of the same ize. Touching on approaching local hodes which Mr. Gordon had informed ■ im had been suggested by the Town Uerk, Mr. W. A. McLean, the prerident stated that this had been done regularly for months but owing to ;he financial stringency no money was forthcoming. "If we had the money," said the Major, "the lot of the returned soldiers would be far better." Further compiaints hy Mr. Olds znentioning specific cases were replied to by the president, secretary and Mr. Watson, the answers meeting with c/msiderable applause.

Confidence in the executive and an appreciation of the services that 'hey had rendered, on the motion of Captain Knowles, seconded hy Mr. S. Lloyd, was carried with acclamation, one "no" being registered. The chairman and Dr. Hay dealt vith the running of socials, and other zindred matters of interest only to oldiers were subsequently thrashed out.