R.S.A. CLUBROOMS

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 27 August 1952, Page 3

R.S.A. CLUBROOMS

FIASCOES IN NAPIER -V. "Those who are agitating for exclusive R.S.A. Clubrooms in Taupo should ponder over what happened in Napier," said a Napier resident at present visiting here." "It might be helpful," he added "toremind those who do know, and to inform those who do not know, that there are at least two object lessons which emphasise the unwisdom of spending a substantial some of money on clubrooms dedicated solely to the use of R.S.A. members. "These, object lessons" he continued, "are provided by the experience of Napier and its R.S.A. Memorial Club-rooms. After the first World War a large sum vas raised for club roorns for the R.S.A. The result was a very well-equipped resort on the Marine Parade, with dressing rooms for baths, recreation rooms., and so f orth . "It is now the Spa Hotel, a nolieence guest house. Object lesson No. 1. "After the Second World ■; War funds again were raised for Memorial Club-rooms and the money was spent on the position of the Foresters' Hall, tlie largest hall in Napier and much in demand for dances, In the hands of the original owners it had been a payable proposition. In the hands of the Napier R.S.A. it was not. N "The hall has now been converted to the use of the Totalisator Agency Board. That is object lesson No. 2. "Now", he concluded, "Napier is a centre with population status of a city. It could reasonably be expected that its population would include R.S.A. numerous enough, and interested enough, to keep club-rooms going, meet the cost of upkeep, repairs and maintenance, insurance, and so on. In two separate instances this expectation was not realised. To compare the population of Taupo with Napier is of course ridiculous —the disparity is too great. It might be an intelligent exercise, howeVer, to reflect upon the chances of the percentage of Taupo's small population who are members of their local R.S.A. , succeeding in an enterprise which in a far more populous community was a dead failure.