N.Z. BORN OFFICER SLATED IN COMMONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 181, 2 August 1941, Page 7

N.Z. BORN OFFICER SLATED IN COMMONS

WAR OFFICE POST Labour M.P. Asks Reason For Dismissal United Press Association.—Coprriyht. Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 1. The dismissal of Major A. ReidKellett, D.5.0., M.C., from his employment at the War Office was raised in the House of Commons by Mr. R. R. Stokes (Lab.), who declared that the War Office had employed Major Reid-Kellett as a civilian in 1939 and dismissed him because he had given informaion regarding waste and extravagance in the construction of camps. Mr. Duncan Sandys. Financial Secretary to the War Office and Mr. Churchill's son-in-law, said in -replv, that Major Reid-Kellett in 1939 sent to the War Office a memorandum accusing surveyors and contractors of malpractice and dishonesty. Immediate inquiries proved that the charges were not justified. A High Court judge later found the charges had not been proved. Major Reid-Kellett later reiterated his allegations, said Mr. Sandys. writing a crude and impertinent letter to the War Office, threatening to publicise the matter. His contempt for the regulations, his insolence and practice of spying upon his coworkers, made it impossible for the War Office to retain his services. Major Reid-Kellett was born in Christchurch and educated ipvivatcly and at Canterbury College Ho later travelled extensively in Australia and Africa, following the occupation oi mining engineer in West Africa, Xijierin, Brazil and Peru. He explored the States of Goyaz and Matto Gr-oseo in Brazil, penetrating to where the late President Roosevelt started his famous trip down the Amazon. He has travelled over 2000 miles in the Peruvian Andes and has ivritten many travel article*;. He went to England from Nigeria in 1914, enliFtiiijr as a trooper in the King Edward's Horse an-1 afterwards being commissioned in the South Staffordshire Regiment. Ho. serve,! in France in 1013, eventually commanding a battalion. He -was twice wounded, heing decorated with the M.C.. D.5.0., Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the Second Class Order of St. Stanislaus. He was attached to the Commission Internationale dc RavitaHlment in 1918.