OBJECTION RAISED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1945, Page 6

OBJECTION RAISED

Objection to the decision to invite applications for the position of senior records. clerk at a salary of £5 a week was voiced at a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Joint Committee of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society last evening on. the reading, of the minutes of the standing committee, v :.. : „ Mrs. A. M. Ferguson described the decision as "a gross abuse of public funds." The work, she said, had been done quite capably by voluntary workers for some years and she saw no reason for the appointment, especially, as the work at this stage of the war was decreasing. The-'deputv-chairman, Mr. K. C Aekins, said "the decision had been reached at a special meeting of the standing Committee attended by Mr. J. T. Spears, chairman of the War Purposes Committee of the New Zealand Joint Council. The appointment was considered necessary, as. prisoner, of war: activity would be continued for ;four: years : after! the end of the war. When the war was over there might not be the same number of voluntary workers available. Mrs. T. Bassett said the country people were not willing to contribute to funds unless they knew that expenditure was being watched, and after the recent appointment of the Red Cross Commissioner in the Middle East they were "on their toes." The minutes were confirmed after an amendment to delete the appointment was defeated.