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RSA (Returned and Services Association)
History
HistoryThe Upper Hutt branch had been established in 1928, and had rooms in Station Street, and from advertisements earliest 'Leaders' in 1939, they were used by a number of associations; a queen carnival committee, card-playing groups (RSA, weekly Tuesdays, euchre, a shilling; and Catholics, fortnightly, Thursdays, euchre, one-shilling-and-sixpence by 1941; later, Labour Party, weekly, Thursday, 500), Labour Party meetings and the Rugby Club's annual smoke concert are listed up to September 1939. The outbreak of war began a flurry of activities using the hall.
An annual reunion was held in the Druids' Hall.
From the beginning of the war, the rooms were used to entertain troops from Trentham ('The boys').
Various groups used the rooms to prepare gifts for soldiers, and for English children; clothing, food and mittens, for instance.
There seem to have been regular Friday-evening socials. In late 1940 they may have moved to the larger St Hilda's hall.
In May 1940 the national rules had to be changed so that returned World War II servicemen could become members, after a Paeroa boy, 17, returned from HMNZS Achilles. The rules had limited membership to discharged servicemen.
A 'very fine club room' was announced on June 27, 1940. The August 22, 1940 'Leader' announced a new building for Rosenberg Street (renamed Wakefield Street during or just after World War II). The building, would be a fairly large one which would include a modern kitchen, ladies' and gent's cloak rooms, and a committee room. The floor space of the main hall would be in the vicinity of 56 feet by 24 feet (17 by 7.3 metres), which would be large enough to hold dances. It was later said to be next to St Hilda's hall, and was opened on May 24, 1941, with a grand opening dance to follow, in the evening. St Hilda's hall was used at least once as the supper venue for a dance in the RSA.
A September 5, 1940 spelled out the badge system. On joining, a member obtained a basic badge; on payment of the annual ten-shilling subscription, he was given a red crown which attached to the top of the badge and was marked with the year; anyone whose badge bore the wrong year's crown was not a financial member and was not entitled to wear the badge.
Weekly Saturday dances in the new hall began in June 1941; they were moved back to Fridays in September. Other organisations held dances on Thursdays; the Girls' Basketball Club and the Fire Brigade were two. Typical attendance was 300. Typically, men were charged sixpence more than ladies; the usual exception was for servicemen in uniform, who were sometimes charged the lowest fee of all; that concession ended in 1947. The highest figure up to 1944 was three shillings; but a Grand Victory Loan Ball in September 1944 charged gents five shillings, ladies four, and doubles seven shillings and sixpence. It raised only 20 pounds for the loan.
The Labour Party continued to use the old hall for meetings.
A November 1941 article on a fund-raising appeal for a wellington RSA building mentioned that women from a W S S A would be among the collectors; Wellington Wives of Soldiers Association?
A women's section was proposed in January 1943.
After earlier advertising seeking a billiard table, one had been installed by October 1943.
A meeting to convene members for a proposed pipe band was held on August 15, 1944.
The formation of a Home Servicemen's Association sub-branch was proposed at a November 6, 1944 meeting; six months' service in New Zealand was required.
By this stage, membership had reached 300; it had been 170 before the war.
In March 1946 a rehabilitation officer was making weekly visits.
The April 1946 annual meeting voted that Upper Hutt, now with 600 members and hoping for 750 during the coming year, should become a direct branch of the NZ RSA instead of a sub-branch of the Wellington RSA. The change was announced in the April 2, 1947 'Leader'.
The Homeservicemen's association had 121 members after a year's operation, in May 1946.
The RSA announced a December-January queen carnival in July 1946, with proceeds going toward obtaining the freehold of the hall The April 2, 1947 'Leader' announced that 1400 pounds had been raised.
On August 15, 1946, the following notice appeared. 'It is intended to form a Women's Auxiliary to assist in the conduct of the Branch's social activities. A meeting is called, of all near relatives of Returned Servicemen, i.e., wives, mothers, sisters and daughters'.
A football team had been started in 1946.
A war-memorial committee had been formed in 1947; there was no member representing the RSA, which had recommended a swimming pool; the government limited its grants to community centres, and this was the committee's initial favourite.
At the 1949 annual general meeting a motion to debar communists was defeated by a big majority; anyone with an honourable discharge should not be debarred. The meeting also voted against compulsory military training. However, a letter from F Stroud, (not named there as the RSA president) pointed out that nothing had changed; in spite of the discussion and vote, any applicant must swear loyalty to King, Empire and Commonwealth. This was reaffirmed in 1950 in February, when Mr Stroud retired as president.
In September 1949 it was announced that the hall could be rented on all Friday nights except the first of each month; presumably the RSA was cutting its dances from weekly to monthly; but there had been many organisations using the hall for dancing on other days of the week. As they continued to advertise weekly dances, it seems that outside organisations were being given access to the popular Friday slot. September also saw Hazelwood's staging a mannequin parade
In January 1950 the Marching Association announced they would be practising in the RSA from June.
In February 1950 the Licensing Commission proposed to limit the drinking hours of chartered clubs; this would have a major effect on the more rural ones.
August 1950 saw he first burial of a returned serviceman, Joseph Stringer, in the new lawn cemetery at Akatarawa; the RSA had been involved in having an area set aside for service personnel. It would be sown as lawn, hedged, and given a tar-sealed approach. Plaques below grass level would conform to a standard set by a 1948 Auckland conference.
The RSA dance charges had gone up by sixpence a head; gents 3 shillings, ladies half a crown; a National Party ball had charged 25 shillings a couple.
In January 1951 the borough council proposed that 108 acres (43Ha) of Barton's Bush be purchased as a war memorial, possibly paid for by subscription. The RSA had a resolution on its books proposing a swimming pool at Maidstone Park, but might be supportive; in the event, the RSA membership stuck with the pool proposal and the council agreed to proceed; a decision on purchase of Barton's Bush would be postponed.
A charter had been granted, and alterations proposed in February 1951 included an up-to-date bar, a new billiard room, and an extended kitchen.
The report on the 1951 AGM reported membership dropping by 153, to 434. Plans for the building alterations were being drawn.
The January 10, 1952 'Leader' reported that the RSA had bought premises at 5 King Street from a Mr Gabites, and had disposed of the Wakefield Street property, which closed on February 14, 1952.
The April 20, 2005 'Leader' printed a picture of the building, which had been the Hazelwood family home. The new rooms would open in February after alterations to make them suitable for a chartered house. One drawback; there was only room for 2 bowling mats, instead of five; the winter tournaments might have to stop. The charter was successfully transferred to the new rooms, which opened on May 3 by Mr Ken Eraser, Dominion Vice-President of the New Zealand R.S.A. the Right Honourable Walter Nash, a former Prime Minister also spoke, and offered books from his library (as Leader of the Opposition, he was in Upper Hutt to give an election address). The local M P, Mr J J Maher, also spoke ('Leader', May 8).
The Wakefield Street hall was advertised as available for hire from J Jarden, Billiard Salon, from February 28; by June it was occupied by Barron's, upholsterers; another upholsterer, C E Mancer, had been operating across the street, since August 1950.
There are references in earlier years, but 1952 saw multiple advertisements '
BUY YOUR POPPY BEFORE GOING TO TOWN FROM THE LOCAL R.S.A.'; funds were spent where the poppies were sold.
By the 1952 Annual General Meeting, membership was up, to 524. The borough council was buying Barton's Bush and a fund-raising queen carnival was prominently advertised. The RSA criticised the proposal, but would support it provided the swimming pool was given equal priority.
A pensioner-flat project was started in 1954, but deferred due to other commitments.
There are Revelle Jackson pictures of a visit by U S Marine veterans in early 1968.
Major improvements to the building started in 1967, with an opening on July 1; Recollect has 17 pictures from the opening. Further changes were announced in the January 29, 1969 'Leader' and the new frontage was shown in an architect's drawing published on May 14; this was part of an extension opened on April 18, 1970; there are 43 pictures from the opening social.
There are 24 pictures taken during what might have turned out to be the last annual conference and reunion of the South African War Veterans Association of New Zealand in February 1973; 12 men were able to be present; the youngest was 91. Events included a civic reception, a wreath-laying ceremony, and a visit to Trentham Camp.
In July 1972, a pensioner-flat was restarted by the new president, Mr C Miller; five flats in Savage Crescent were completed in May 1977 ('Leader', May 31).
The April 26 'Leader' reported an application to extend the clubrooms to vacant land behind the building to provide office space, staff room, storage space, a committee room, and improved toilets.
The RSA bought and extended the adjacent premises (No. 5?) in 1979, gaining space for a games room large enough for indoor bowls.
In December 1993 the Upper Hutt RSA Club (Inc), like other RSA clubs, was wound up, with its activities being taken over by the RSA ('Leader', November 22).
In 1993, chef James McMenamin took over and renamed the restaurant 'Troopers', and initially advertised it as open to the public; in fact it was limited to the 100 full members and 600 associate members (who needed no military background). Anybody could become an associate member, for a fee.
July 1996; former secretary-manager Edwin Francis Ball pleaded guilty to theft of $41 402.
An M101 A1 105mm Howitzer gun was presented to the Upper Hutt RSA by the New Zealand Army on August 1, 1999 and placed at the clubroom entrance; Recollect has a picture.
July 26, 2000; 'Leader'. Internal Affairs had been unsatisfied that gaming machine income had been disbursed appropriately; machine and disbursement accounts had been separate.
November 8, 2000; money, possibly $2000-3000, had gone missing from the safe; the camera was not working, and too many people had keys.
The RSA building was advertised for sale by tender in the September 22, 2004 'leader'; there had already been progress pictures from the rebuilding of the Cosmopolitan Club, but completion was now expected in February, not December.
The RSA, with its 700 membership, merged with the Cossie Club in December 2004, after both clubs held meetings at the end of November; both had to contend with legislation on gaming machines and smoke-free environments, which would affect membership.
The building was bought by Michael Jacomb; a March 16, 2005 picture and article said he was prepared to lease some space to the RSA; otherwise, the field gun would be returned to the Army.
The March 30, 2016 'Leader' printed a letter of appreciation from Peter Banks, thanking Sid Giles for his 20 years' service on the executive; he had just retired after 12 years as president.
The building survives, occupied by two restaurants and Anita's Dance Academy.
Sources; the library's on-line editions of the 'Leader', 1939-1964, and an April 20, 2005 article by Peter Renshaw, written as the RSA building was about to close.
An annual reunion was held in the Druids' Hall.
From the beginning of the war, the rooms were used to entertain troops from Trentham ('The boys').
Various groups used the rooms to prepare gifts for soldiers, and for English children; clothing, food and mittens, for instance.
There seem to have been regular Friday-evening socials. In late 1940 they may have moved to the larger St Hilda's hall.
In May 1940 the national rules had to be changed so that returned World War II servicemen could become members, after a Paeroa boy, 17, returned from HMNZS Achilles. The rules had limited membership to discharged servicemen.
A 'very fine club room' was announced on June 27, 1940. The August 22, 1940 'Leader' announced a new building for Rosenberg Street (renamed Wakefield Street during or just after World War II). The building, would be a fairly large one which would include a modern kitchen, ladies' and gent's cloak rooms, and a committee room. The floor space of the main hall would be in the vicinity of 56 feet by 24 feet (17 by 7.3 metres), which would be large enough to hold dances. It was later said to be next to St Hilda's hall, and was opened on May 24, 1941, with a grand opening dance to follow, in the evening. St Hilda's hall was used at least once as the supper venue for a dance in the RSA.
A September 5, 1940 spelled out the badge system. On joining, a member obtained a basic badge; on payment of the annual ten-shilling subscription, he was given a red crown which attached to the top of the badge and was marked with the year; anyone whose badge bore the wrong year's crown was not a financial member and was not entitled to wear the badge.
Weekly Saturday dances in the new hall began in June 1941; they were moved back to Fridays in September. Other organisations held dances on Thursdays; the Girls' Basketball Club and the Fire Brigade were two. Typical attendance was 300. Typically, men were charged sixpence more than ladies; the usual exception was for servicemen in uniform, who were sometimes charged the lowest fee of all; that concession ended in 1947. The highest figure up to 1944 was three shillings; but a Grand Victory Loan Ball in September 1944 charged gents five shillings, ladies four, and doubles seven shillings and sixpence. It raised only 20 pounds for the loan.
The Labour Party continued to use the old hall for meetings.
A November 1941 article on a fund-raising appeal for a wellington RSA building mentioned that women from a W S S A would be among the collectors; Wellington Wives of Soldiers Association?
A women's section was proposed in January 1943.
After earlier advertising seeking a billiard table, one had been installed by October 1943.
A meeting to convene members for a proposed pipe band was held on August 15, 1944.
The formation of a Home Servicemen's Association sub-branch was proposed at a November 6, 1944 meeting; six months' service in New Zealand was required.
By this stage, membership had reached 300; it had been 170 before the war.
In March 1946 a rehabilitation officer was making weekly visits.
The April 1946 annual meeting voted that Upper Hutt, now with 600 members and hoping for 750 during the coming year, should become a direct branch of the NZ RSA instead of a sub-branch of the Wellington RSA. The change was announced in the April 2, 1947 'Leader'.
The Homeservicemen's association had 121 members after a year's operation, in May 1946.
The RSA announced a December-January queen carnival in July 1946, with proceeds going toward obtaining the freehold of the hall The April 2, 1947 'Leader' announced that 1400 pounds had been raised.
On August 15, 1946, the following notice appeared. 'It is intended to form a Women's Auxiliary to assist in the conduct of the Branch's social activities. A meeting is called, of all near relatives of Returned Servicemen, i.e., wives, mothers, sisters and daughters'.
A football team had been started in 1946.
A war-memorial committee had been formed in 1947; there was no member representing the RSA, which had recommended a swimming pool; the government limited its grants to community centres, and this was the committee's initial favourite.
At the 1949 annual general meeting a motion to debar communists was defeated by a big majority; anyone with an honourable discharge should not be debarred. The meeting also voted against compulsory military training. However, a letter from F Stroud, (not named there as the RSA president) pointed out that nothing had changed; in spite of the discussion and vote, any applicant must swear loyalty to King, Empire and Commonwealth. This was reaffirmed in 1950 in February, when Mr Stroud retired as president.
In September 1949 it was announced that the hall could be rented on all Friday nights except the first of each month; presumably the RSA was cutting its dances from weekly to monthly; but there had been many organisations using the hall for dancing on other days of the week. As they continued to advertise weekly dances, it seems that outside organisations were being given access to the popular Friday slot. September also saw Hazelwood's staging a mannequin parade
In January 1950 the Marching Association announced they would be practising in the RSA from June.
In February 1950 the Licensing Commission proposed to limit the drinking hours of chartered clubs; this would have a major effect on the more rural ones.
August 1950 saw he first burial of a returned serviceman, Joseph Stringer, in the new lawn cemetery at Akatarawa; the RSA had been involved in having an area set aside for service personnel. It would be sown as lawn, hedged, and given a tar-sealed approach. Plaques below grass level would conform to a standard set by a 1948 Auckland conference.
The RSA dance charges had gone up by sixpence a head; gents 3 shillings, ladies half a crown; a National Party ball had charged 25 shillings a couple.
In January 1951 the borough council proposed that 108 acres (43Ha) of Barton's Bush be purchased as a war memorial, possibly paid for by subscription. The RSA had a resolution on its books proposing a swimming pool at Maidstone Park, but might be supportive; in the event, the RSA membership stuck with the pool proposal and the council agreed to proceed; a decision on purchase of Barton's Bush would be postponed.
A charter had been granted, and alterations proposed in February 1951 included an up-to-date bar, a new billiard room, and an extended kitchen.
The report on the 1951 AGM reported membership dropping by 153, to 434. Plans for the building alterations were being drawn.
The January 10, 1952 'Leader' reported that the RSA had bought premises at 5 King Street from a Mr Gabites, and had disposed of the Wakefield Street property, which closed on February 14, 1952.
The April 20, 2005 'Leader' printed a picture of the building, which had been the Hazelwood family home. The new rooms would open in February after alterations to make them suitable for a chartered house. One drawback; there was only room for 2 bowling mats, instead of five; the winter tournaments might have to stop. The charter was successfully transferred to the new rooms, which opened on May 3 by Mr Ken Eraser, Dominion Vice-President of the New Zealand R.S.A. the Right Honourable Walter Nash, a former Prime Minister also spoke, and offered books from his library (as Leader of the Opposition, he was in Upper Hutt to give an election address). The local M P, Mr J J Maher, also spoke ('Leader', May 8).
The Wakefield Street hall was advertised as available for hire from J Jarden, Billiard Salon, from February 28; by June it was occupied by Barron's, upholsterers; another upholsterer, C E Mancer, had been operating across the street, since August 1950.
There are references in earlier years, but 1952 saw multiple advertisements '
BUY YOUR POPPY BEFORE GOING TO TOWN FROM THE LOCAL R.S.A.'; funds were spent where the poppies were sold.
By the 1952 Annual General Meeting, membership was up, to 524. The borough council was buying Barton's Bush and a fund-raising queen carnival was prominently advertised. The RSA criticised the proposal, but would support it provided the swimming pool was given equal priority.
A pensioner-flat project was started in 1954, but deferred due to other commitments.
There are Revelle Jackson pictures of a visit by U S Marine veterans in early 1968.
Major improvements to the building started in 1967, with an opening on July 1; Recollect has 17 pictures from the opening. Further changes were announced in the January 29, 1969 'Leader' and the new frontage was shown in an architect's drawing published on May 14; this was part of an extension opened on April 18, 1970; there are 43 pictures from the opening social.
There are 24 pictures taken during what might have turned out to be the last annual conference and reunion of the South African War Veterans Association of New Zealand in February 1973; 12 men were able to be present; the youngest was 91. Events included a civic reception, a wreath-laying ceremony, and a visit to Trentham Camp.
In July 1972, a pensioner-flat was restarted by the new president, Mr C Miller; five flats in Savage Crescent were completed in May 1977 ('Leader', May 31).
The April 26 'Leader' reported an application to extend the clubrooms to vacant land behind the building to provide office space, staff room, storage space, a committee room, and improved toilets.
The RSA bought and extended the adjacent premises (No. 5?) in 1979, gaining space for a games room large enough for indoor bowls.
In December 1993 the Upper Hutt RSA Club (Inc), like other RSA clubs, was wound up, with its activities being taken over by the RSA ('Leader', November 22).
In 1993, chef James McMenamin took over and renamed the restaurant 'Troopers', and initially advertised it as open to the public; in fact it was limited to the 100 full members and 600 associate members (who needed no military background). Anybody could become an associate member, for a fee.
July 1996; former secretary-manager Edwin Francis Ball pleaded guilty to theft of $41 402.
An M101 A1 105mm Howitzer gun was presented to the Upper Hutt RSA by the New Zealand Army on August 1, 1999 and placed at the clubroom entrance; Recollect has a picture.
July 26, 2000; 'Leader'. Internal Affairs had been unsatisfied that gaming machine income had been disbursed appropriately; machine and disbursement accounts had been separate.
November 8, 2000; money, possibly $2000-3000, had gone missing from the safe; the camera was not working, and too many people had keys.
The RSA building was advertised for sale by tender in the September 22, 2004 'leader'; there had already been progress pictures from the rebuilding of the Cosmopolitan Club, but completion was now expected in February, not December.
The RSA, with its 700 membership, merged with the Cossie Club in December 2004, after both clubs held meetings at the end of November; both had to contend with legislation on gaming machines and smoke-free environments, which would affect membership.
The building was bought by Michael Jacomb; a March 16, 2005 picture and article said he was prepared to lease some space to the RSA; otherwise, the field gun would be returned to the Army.
The March 30, 2016 'Leader' printed a letter of appreciation from Peter Banks, thanking Sid Giles for his 20 years' service on the executive; he had just retired after 12 years as president.
The building survives, occupied by two restaurants and Anita's Dance Academy.
Sources; the library's on-line editions of the 'Leader', 1939-1964, and an April 20, 2005 article by Peter Renshaw, written as the RSA building was about to close.
Photos
Details
LocationStation StreetRosenberg Street (renamed Wakefield Street) May 24, 1941-Feb. 14, 1952King Street (Feb. 1952
Rosenberg Street (renamed Wakefield Street) May 24, 1941-Feb. 14, 1952King Street (Feb. 1952Also known as
Alternative nameReturned Servicemen's AssociationFor the years1916-
For the years1916-Also known as
Alternative nameReturned Services Association
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RSA (Returned and Services Association). Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 01/04/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24221