CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 255, 28 October 1942, Page 2

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

R.S.A. AND RED CROSS

(To the Editor.) Your recently published statement by Mr. G. T. Paterson, chairman of the Auckland sub-centre of the N.Z Red Cross Society, regarding what he terms an "inaccurate statement" that the Auckland Returned Services' Association has had representation on the joint committee of Red Cross and St. John, set up in connection with the last war, needs reply. I made that statement, and it must be either correct or as "inaccurate" as to be an untruth. The fact is that Mr. D. W. Rutledge has been an accredited and accepted representative of the association on that joint committee, now known as the Great War Funds Administrative Committee, for several years. It seems extraordinary that Mr. Paterson, who is himself a member of that committee, should not know this. His remarks concerning my status are quite correct. I have been a member of the old joint committee for some years, but in the capacity as a Red Cross appointee. I have never been recognised as a representative of the R.S.A. So far as the new sick and wounded joint com' mittee is concerned, the question of R.S.A. representation has already been referred to our Wellington headquarters, who were powerless to act as it is a matter for local adjust ment. As the tenor of Mr. Paterson's remarks indicates that the R.S.A. is worthy of representation, I trust that he will use eveiy endeavour to bring this about. J. W. KENDALL. President, RiSA.