Sadly, though, this ANZAC weekened has brought to light the sad state of affairs of the RSA in my home city of New Plymouth, a city judged time and again as best city in the country, even best city in the world. In February last year, despite the protests of many Taranaki people, including myself and a number of New Plymouth RSA members, New Zealand's most famous pornographer Steve Crow, with his brother David, purchased the New Plymouth RSA clubrooms. In August David took over the management of the club, concerned at the previous year's defecit of $200 000. In order to achieve this he has hiked up prices of drinks and banned people from bringing their own food, and as a result has got a number of members' backs up and become front page news in the Taranaki Daily News and the Sunday News.
Now it is important that the presence of the RSA is sustainable, so perhaps the Crows are actually doing the noble thing here. Mind you, they have already made a $40 000 profit this year, so maybe there is scope to soften the policies a little. But Steve himself tells the media "They say we're in it purely for the money," and it would seem that their hard-hitting management style won't be necessary for cashflow once the north-facing mural is removed and replaced with billboards to create more revenue. But wait, Crow is planning to use these billboards to advertise New Plymouth's first Erotica expo, and of course its associated torrid Boobs on Bikes display. That's right - not only is Crow bringing his trash to the world's favourite city, but he's advertising it at our local RSA!
But what can we do? It sucks that money runs the world. It sucks that there's a man greasy enough to enter one of the most lucratively demeaning markets the world has ever seen. It sucks that my home province produced New Zealand's most famous pornographer. It sucks that he held his Auckland expo on my birthday last year, almost ruining it completely except that later that day I received a suprise text from a random girl who went on to become my fiancee! But, keeping on point, it sucks that Steve Crow is now planning an erotica expo for New Plymouth, all the while ripping off and demeaning our local RSA.
Former RSA member Hawea "Guv" Grey says advertising an Erotica expo does not fit with the image of an RSA. I would say that holding an Erotica expo does not fit with the image of New Plymouth. I would hope this is a sentiment shared by leaders in the community, and I will be disappointed if I don't hear the likes of Mayor Peter Tennent, Bishop Philip Richardson or other community leaders make similar statements. New Zealand is not an oligarchy - money does not rule this country. Democratic and church leaders have a responsibility to open their mouths and lead with principles and conviction. It was once said the pen is mightier than the sword. I would like to think, too, that the microphone and keyboard can avail the dollar.
In the meantime, I have found a fun Facebook group to help with the cause:
Steve Crow is a loser!
7 comments:
The fact is you hate Steve Crow’s profession has blinded you from the big picture.
Crow and his brother David, of Inglewood, bought the Strandon clubrooms for $1.9 million in July 2008, as part of a rescue package for the organisation, which was in danger of going broke. RSA members voted to sell the property to the brothers, who intend to put a $20 million development on the site, on the promise it got cash to clear debts and improved facilities.
After they did the deal they discovered the RSA was still in the financial mire.
Another important fact is both ‘greasy’ brothers are the sons of the club's former president and life member, Peter Crow, who died of cancer in July 2008. They made a death-bed promise to their father to save the RSA, and they are going to do just that.
This means making the organisation profitable and attracting new membership.
Clearly the price of beer going-up and new faces appearing at the bar has up-set some of the ‘old diggers’ in the RSA – but without these changes they would be doomed to go down the tubes.
Crow had paid the RSA to ‘host’ the billboards – another form of income stream.
If you, Bishop Williamson, The Major or any of the other apologists want to save the RSA in question the best way to do so is to patronise the club, drink beer at it’s bar - not complain about its new managers who are doing the job for nothing - as a promise to their father.
The Anglican Church in New Zealand supported The Maori Party at the election before last, so why not support the Returned Servicemen’s Club in New Plymouth instead of a political party?
If you believe in the evils of capitalism, there are still a few countries that share your sentiments.
North Korea is one that springs to mind.
Good-on the Crow brothers, keeping their promise to their dying father and the RSA viable.
We need more Crow's in society.
Men of conviction (even if it is at odds with yours)
They get off their arse and are doing what they feel is right, ignoring the losers & doom-sayers who have never run a business in their life.
Why not get a team of your own to run the RSA as a charity, like the Crow brothers?
No it's too easy running him down than actually doing something constructive.
It's you that comes across as the loser.
Paul.
Cheers for the comment Paul. Unfortunately my own investments are in the property market at the moment, which unlike the porn industry actually provides something that helps people. Unfortunately I timed my run too late!
You are right though, in a sense - good on them for having a go. Mind you, I'm not sure how much takes after his father, but if a little then the fact his Dad was president might suggest the club has seen better days anyway!
But I do object to them being painted as heroes by the paper. At the end of the day they money is coming from peoples' addictions, and to celebrate that the RSA has been nobly saved when its salvation comes from such dirty money seems a cheap trick.
And I'm more concerned about the honour of those who served - the individuals - than in any particular organisation which wears the "RSA" label. What is going on in New Plymouth is indicative that this group of men have very little in common with the likes of my grandfather and my great-great-uncles.
Hi there again A.J,
If Crow brothers were benevolent god-fearing citizens, rather than businessmen who have interests in adult-entertainment, their methods and devotion to their father and his beloved RSA, would have been applauded, rather than being lambasted.
Cripes, all they have done is put the price of beers up a bit, restrict the patrons bringing their own food and extended membership criteria – the sky is hardly falling.
The RSA would doubtless be happy to have a sign paid for by the Anglican Church advertising Sunday service on their property.
So where is this church sponsored sign?
But what you haven’t answered as yet, is what YOU and your knockers, are doing to save the New Plymouth RSA?
Clearly we know the Crows are doing their bit on a gratis basis and have their own ideas, but as yet we haven’t heard your solution?
You talk about ‘leadership’ so why doesn’t your rabble of church & community groups take over the RSA from the Crows, instead of lambasting their industry?
I'm sure The Crows have something better to do with their time and welcome your helping-hand.
My bet is you, The Mayor, nor The Bishop, have ever set foot inside the place.
Far to easy to criticise from arms-length rather than getting your hands dirty.
No wonder they are leaving New Zealand in droves, when negativism like this abounds at two guys wanting to return something to the community.
They are people we should applaud, irrespective of what you think of their moral standing.
Gotta go.
Paul.
PS: My grand-father was in The Canterbury Artillery Battalion in WW1, not that that gives me any more rights than an immigrant hoping-off the plane this morning.
You're quite right Paul, there does need to be a viable alternative. I can't come up with that right now. Maybe the mayor of the bishop could, and I agree that they should. But it doesn't mean that those of us who are upset with the current state of play shouldn't make a noise. The porn industry is still the elephant in the room that no-one knows how to talk about. We all have different roles in figuring that out. Today my role is to suggest that civic institutions and the porn industry shouldn't be so closely connected. My strength lies in my willingness to call things as I see them. I am not yet endowed with the political or financial resources to be able to solve the problem. But hopefully someone does, and hopefully my voice actually adds to the chorus encouraging them to do so. As does yours. Cheers.
For the record A.J, I have never been to a ‘Boobs on Bike’(too much silicone for my liking, I prefer them perky) but I do like looking at porn, and don’t feel any embarrassment indicating so.
Nor do I think there’s anything wrong in pornography as a whole.
But that’s not what this RSA thing is about mate - porn is a red-herring.
It’s not about whether you or think Steve Crow is an exploitive creep, or I see him as a businessman in a legitimate industry.
This is about two brothers who are trying to save the New Plymouth RSA, one who happens to have the title ‘Porn King’.
In Australia they would be championed these two, as heroes.
Two brothers, who made a promise to their dying father and are making good on that commitment.
The local mayor and Bishop for that matter should be congratulating them, not ripping-into them – as should you.
These guys could easily be doing something else more lucrative.
It would have been better for them if The RSA has have gone ‘belly-up’, then they could have developed the entire property, flattened the club and wiped it off the section.
But that’s not what they did – they are doing their best to save The RSA, and the irony of this benevolence and hours of free work, is they now face being called ‘losers’from individuals with no plan of their own and have never stepped inside the joint!
As I’ve said – no wonder people go to Australia when we have such a knocking-machine here in New Zealand.
When it comes to this RSA case, whether you want to ignore the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’ or not - the Crows are actually men of integrity and local heroes.
I applaud their involvement when no one else was willing to come forward and by and large their help has been welcomed by the membership and wider community.
I think you, the Bishop etc owe them an apology.
Gotta go.
See ya.
Paul
You can’t separate the RSA issue and the porn issue. Having the Crows get involved means the RSA is reliant on porn-produced capital for its existence. Thus the welfare of the RSA depends on the turnover of the porn industry
The issue is how Taranaki leadership is dealing with the fact one of their sons is playing the porn game. Kneeling down and eating from his hands is probably not the best response.
For the records, neither the mayor or the bishop have said anything, that I am aware of. Also, I have been to the New Plymouth RSA.
Cheers
After reading your comments A.J I now genuinely hope like hell, those ‘loser’ Crow brothers read what you, and your flame-carrying mob, have to say about their benevolence, and take your criticisms to heart.
Who could blame them getting sick-to-the-back-teeth of the knockers & walk away from The RSA and the hassle of running, the thing for nothing.
Doubtless without their business accruement the New Plymouth RSA would then gradually go bust – the situation that we both agree was happening before they came to the rescue, as a honourable promise to their father (a little matter you never seem to mention)
A porn-king following The 4th Commandment “to honour your father and mother” – impossible!
The Crows or similar property-developer would then buy the property, flatten the RSA thus ending their relationship.
Then you would finally be happy as the ‘last-drinks’ call was made!
The irony of this demolition scenario is, were the RSA to go bust, you would still lambaste those evil pornographers for destroying a sacred institution!
In-fact the Crows can’t win either way, with you, can they A.J?
I now can’t wait to read about them walking away, sick of the negative publicity from people like you, the place getting closed & bulldozed as the ‘all talk no action’ protesters like you, watch the rubble & dust being created.
Which is in reality what your ‘moral crusade’ over one friggin’ billboard is advocating, were to use some logic and take-off those ‘God goggles’ one second.
Your blinkered attitude and outright hatred of the Crows and the porn industry, has blinded you to the ridiculous & irresponsible stand you are taking here.
I hope it plays-out the way you want it A.J and the Crow’s walk away.
Then in twenty years, you can show your kids, the site with town-houses, where the RSA once stood, and say proudly “I helped build those”.
See ya.
Paul.
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