GRANT TO RETIRING SECRETARY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22359, 24 March 1938, Page 10

GRANT TO RETIRING SECRETARY

VIEWS OF ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY MEMBERS

The view that many members of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society were ready to make criticisms to their fellow-members and talk of what they would say at the annual meeting, but did not have much to say when the meeting was held, was expressed at a meeting of the council of the society last evening by Mr G. L. Pom-fret-Dodd. His remarks were made after there had been some discussion of the right of the council to make a grant of six months’ salary to the% retiring «secretary (Mr C. W. Hervey). A report of the finance committee had recommended that the allowance be made out of the finances of the current year and not left to the incoming council.

Mr A. G. Familton asked whether the council had the right to make the grant._ There had been a good deal of criticism of the matter outside the council. The chairman of the finance committee (Mr C. H. Lawrence) said that the committee had unanimously approved the grant, which was a mark of recognition of Mr Hervey’s 25 of loyal service. The council had charge of the affairs of the society and had the right to approve the grant. It was unsporting that criticisms should be raised at the present stage. “I was only asking a simple question,” said Mr Familton. who denied that he was raising what was described as a “tirade of abuse” against making the grant. The chairman (Dr. D. McK. Dickson) said that the council had a legal right to make the grant. The recommendation of the committee was adopted. At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman and members naid high tributes to the work of Mr Hervey.