RSA treasurer suspended in row

By SCOTT MacLEOD

The Auckland RSA has suspended its treasurer and hired an auditor to probe its finances amid growing strife within the branch.

This comes amid claims of a brawl, the alleged taking of financial papers and arguments among veterans over money collected during poppy day.

Executive members are expected to discuss internal charges of misconduct against treasurer Peter Campbell at a meeting today, but the World War II veteran's supporters claim he is being victimised.

According to Mr Campbell's supporters, the latest boilover peaked on May 1 when he and vice-president Andy Tolich went to Auckland RSA offices in Newmarket to pick up $1800 collected during Anzac commemorations at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The veterans, both aged at least 79, scuffled with executive member and Vietnam veteran Graham Gibson. Police sent two patrol cars to deal with the stoush.

Senior Sergeant Paul Marshall of Newmarket police confirmed yesterday that a complaint was laid.

Opponents of Mr Campbell allege he took financial records from the office after the fight.

Branch president Chris Yates said Mr Campbell was suspended on the day after the fight because he sent out voting papers without approval and had insisted on controlling this year's poppy day collections, which returned just $12,000 instead of the usual $25,000 to $30,000.

Mr Yates suggested the problems were caused by older veterans trying to cling to their status in the RSA when it was time to move on.

He said an auditor's concerns about finances two years ago were never passed on to executives.

In a letter Mr Yates wrote to members on Friday, obtained by the Herald, he said an auditor had been appointed as a special investigator to probe "the financial affairs of the Auckland RSA and its two related trusts".

Mr Campbell yesterday disputed whether he could be suspended under the RSA's rules. He had two chequebooks which he would return whenever he was asked for them.

He would not otherwise comment because "there could be litigation coming up". Nor would Mr Tolich comment.

But a supporter of Mr Campbell said the poppy day money was closer to $18,000 rather than $12,000 as Mr Yates said. It was counted, sealed in plastic bags and taken to the bank.

Mr Campbell had devoted years of his life to the RSA, and was the victim of Mr Yates running an agenda.

"He hasn't been up to anything," the supporter said of Mr Campbell. "He's so straight he would sell his house to support the RSA."

The Auckland RSA sold its Fort St premises more than 11 years ago and used the money to set up two charitable trusts.

In January last year the Herald revealed that the branch had become embroiled in disputes that led to blows and court action. Factions were at loggerheads over the direction of the movement and $2 million in trust money.