Diggers battle porn king

WAR has broken out at an RSA between porn king Steve Crow and diggers who refuse to accept profit-making changes under his management.

"He has moved the big clock without checking with us first and the nightly draw has been moved from 5.30 to 6," Peter Sprake told Sunday News.

And Don Simmonds, a long-time member at New Plymouth's Fitzroy RSA said: "We don't really want someone like (Crow) with his background running our club but the alternative is to close down."

Changes upsetting the battle-hardened members include cask wine being poured only as far as marks on the new glasses, drink prices being increased and punters being banned from bringing their own tucker.

It's Friday night and Auckland-based Crow has driven to New Plymouth where he and brother David manage the RSA the club their father Peter was president of until his death last year.

About 200 members have packed in on this Anzac eve and dance under a mirror ball as $14 roast pork meals are slowly picked at and cask wine and pints sunk.

But beneath the merriment a battle has been slowly brewing as Crow makes changes to the traditionally low-cost-great-value establishment in an attempt to save it from financial self-destruction.

In 2007 the club ran a $200,000 loss. So far this financial year it has made a $40,000 profit.

The Crow brothers became involved with the RSA in 2007, when their proposed rescue plan to buy the 4500sqm Devon St property gained members' approval.

The $1.9 million sale agreement stated the Crows would sell back the clubrooms to the members in return for consent to build a $15 million development featuring a hotel, medical centre and bowling club on an adjoining lot.

The Crows soon realised to save the RSA they needed to roll up their sleeves and run it themselves, so they offered to manage it free of charge a first for any New Zealand RSA.

Crow a millionaire businessman who has made his money mainly through distributing pornography and running the Erotica sex expo said his motivation was to continue his father's legacy. But several of the club's members told Sunday News they were worried the Crows had their minds more on business than the traditions and identity of the RSA.

A memo on the club notice board signed by the Crows' attempts to silence the outrage but its message is pretty clear: If you don't like the changes, drink elsewhere.

"There are all sorts of colourful rumours circulating the club, fuelled by a small group whose aim seems to be to see us and the club fail," the memo reads.

"If one of these people try to get in your ear we suggest you tell them to get a life and go elsewhere if they don't like it."

Last month's committee meeting minutes provide further evidence of the Crows' cost-cutting debate.

"The committee needs to support management to stop all this negativetity (sic)," one recording reads.

Crow said problems with elderly members are caused by them being "averse to change" and "wanting everything for free".

"Sometimes I just can't get over how selfish and self-centred the average RSA member is," Crow said.

Some members had cheated the in-house taxi service, based on a gold-coin donation.

"Low and behold, we were finding some of them had been putting a metal washer in the bucket and paying nothing.

"They are saving themselves a $15 cab ride across town and they can't even put in a coin?"

The Crows have posted a further notice: "Do not pressure staff to top your glass or handle off, bar staff have been instructed to pour to correct measure. The failure to do this may result in them having to seek alternate employment."

Crow said it was important members learned to embrace change.

"The core value we are talking about is our father he asked us to help. If I need to steamroll over all these members then I will," he said.

But some members were all for Crow's rescue plans. Club president Graeme Lowe said he was excited the RSA was "getting back on a financial footing".

"The Crow boys have brought us up to scratch. They have proved their worth. It is good having a few businessman who know what they are doing to get us out of the crap."

But a new battle may be brewing Crow is planning to erect billboards on the pub's front lawn to promote his Erotica expo.