R.S.A. PROTEST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 221, 18 September 1942, Page 2

R.S.A. PROTEST

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

PAYMENT TO SECRETARY

Strong exception was taken by the executive of the Auckland R.S.A. at its meeting last night to the principle of the decision of the Provincial Patriotic Council to grant the secretary, Mr. K. L. I smar. three months' leave of absence on his resigning to take up another position in the national E.P.S. organisation.

The executive resolved to communicate with the council individually, and request its members personalisto pay the amount of the gift of £90 made to the secretary on a pro rata basis, so as to relieve the patriotic funds. Mr. R. B. Long, a member of the Patriotic Council, seconded the m< it ion.

The president, Mr. J. TV. Kendall, said that the secretary of the council was also secretary of the Auckland L.P.S. and was paid two salaries for the two positions, with an income of something over ill per week. One condition of his appointment was that he gave three months' notice of termination of his engagement, but the council had seen fit to waive that and to give the secretary three months' leave of absence on full pay. This meant a gift to the secretary of approximately i'9o of public money. He had held the position about two years. He was going into a big job, which would also be highly paid. The Patriotic Council was appealing every day to the public for money to help the soldier in the front line and the poor dependents who were "up against it," and he contended that to pay an official .£9O in such circumstances from money thus subscribed was gravely wrong. Mr. C. Snedden said the council had the wrong slant on the matter. No one who knew would deny the splendid work Mr. Usmar had done but the Patriotic Council was appealing for funds all the time to provide comforts, ;;nd should see that all moneys were used for this purpose. Mr. A. P. Postlewaite, a member of the Patriotic Council, said he had suggested at the meeting that the council was being over-generous with patriotic money, but the chairman did not consider they were. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr."Allum. was not in the chair at the time; Mr. I. J. Goldstine was presiding. Mr. Kendall made it clear that he did not deny that Mr. Usmar had done a good job of work. It was agreed, on the motion of the chairman, to write to other branches of the R.S.A. in Auckland Province, drawing attention to the decision of the Patriotic Council in regard to the gift to the secretary.