Region's RSAs in good shape financially

Returned Services Associations around Taranaki were quick to reassure their communities they were in good shape yesterday.

The Taranaki Daily News contacted the RSAs in the wake of ongoing issues in New Plymouth, where the RSA's war with Crow brothers Steve and David continues.

The Stratford RSA in particular had a remarkable turn-around story to tell, crawling back from the brink of disaster and putting its finances in order last year. In late 2008 the club was close to financial collapse and plans were in place for a merger with the Stratford Club.

A last-minute leadership change halted the merger, and yesterday president Kevin Holley said the Stratford RSA was now on the road to recovery.

About half of the club's $200,000 debts had been repaid and Mr Holley said it was on track to repay 80 to 90 per cent of the rest by the end of this year.

Membership numbers have almost doubled, from 345 to slightly more than 600 after the club lowered its membership fees.

"We were very close to having to sell our building," Mr Holley said. "We had plans in the back of our mind in case what we were going to try didn't work out.

"A lot of what we did was just common sense stuff, we dropped our membership fees, started watching our costs, things like that."

Senior vice-president Geoff McClelland works at the club during the day and said he was now able to see the light at the end of the tunnel after a year of struggle.

In Hawera, South Taranaki RSA president Dave Black said the club was ticking along nicely with a membership of about 300.

Last year it made a small operating profit of about $30,000.

"Even if we ran at a small loss the money we've got invested would be enough to keep us going for probably about 15 years," he said. "Everybody's being pretty careful though, we don't want to keep spending and spending."President of the Inglewood sub branch of the New Plymouth RSA, Albert Le Fleming, said the club there was in good shape.

"Inglewood is supporting itself and doing quite well thank you."

And in Waitara, the RSA shares clubrooms with the District Services and Citizens Club.

The Waitara RSA bequeathed the building to the club in 1975.

Secretary Ian Mitchell said the arrangement worked well and the RSA had very few running costs. "We work extremely well, we've got no problems," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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