Foreign Legion chief admits accruing debts

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 7

Foreign Legion chief admits accruing debts

PA Palmerston North The former New Zealand Foreign Legion chief, Charles Pakai, has admitted running up a $2OOO debt under the legion’s name before his ousting as leader last week. The admission, at a public meeting in Palmerston North last week, came as a shock to the Christchurch legion chiefs, Ken Gemell and John Evans, who were in the city to host a meeting to clarify the legion’s aims. When Mr Evans asked Mr Pakai if there were any debts in Palmerston North, he said, “Yes, maybe a couple of grand or more.” When asked for particulars of the debts incurred, Mr Pakai said he could not say what they were for “off hand.” All the relevant details were at his home. “I haven’t got the figures here,” he said. Mr Pakai said the debts were incurred before his resignation, and that he did not recognise the Christchurch group as part of the legion. Mr Evans said he was most concerned about the situation. “It concerns me that you as a person still bankrupt can continue to add to your

debts. At the moment you are bankrupt and the Department of Justice has said you are still under its jurisdiction.”

Mr Evans said that there was also a debt of $1650 owing to the Railways after Mr Pakai had opened a bank account under the legion’s name and gave the Railways a cheque from it which had since bounced. He said the Railways had been told by Mr Pakai that the legion’s Christchurch group would pay the bill. “There is no way the New Zealand Foreign Legion will pay for it. I contacted the Justice Department who wrote sharing concern about Mr Pakai and strongly suggested referral of allegations to the police,” Mr Evans said. Mr Pakai said he thought the cheque would be honoured by other means. “I thought a street appeal in Christchurch would raise the money, but it didn’t eventuate,” he said. Mr Pakai said he had been in contact with the Official Assignee in Christchurch regarding his position. “He said it was a very serious matter and he told me to keep a low profile,

which I have done,” Mr Pakai said. Mr Gemmell and Mr Evans were asked by a member of the 15-member audience if Mr Pakai was being used as a scapegoat to cover up administrative and leadership problems the legion was facing, but Mr Evans said no accusation had been made.

“All we require is for Mr Pakai to produce accounts and reports on the legion’s finances in Palmerston North,” he said.

Mr Gemmell said that as soon as he found from news media reports that Mr Pakai was bankrupt he approached him to discuss the situation. “I cautioned him and spent a long time discussing this with him and explained that no-one was trying to get at him, but that things had to be done in a legal manner.”

Mr Evans said the legion has internal problems which had not really been faced until now. “This is the first chance we have had to front up to our own problems. We want to sort things out so that these cadets can get out and do what they want to do.” He said, however, that

their hands were tied until the constitution was completed and the legion became a legally incorporated society. Mr Gemmell said he remained “open minded” about some of the legion’s problems. “I believe there is an element of sincerity here. I believe the methods used have been wrong but I am prepared to talk to anyone about the situation.” In the meantime, legion recruits in Palmerston North would continue the timetable outlined for them. The newly appointed acting commander in Palmerston North, Nepia Periwiti, said that at present the 15 to 20 recruits were concentrating on a fitness programme. “We form a general parade every Monday and Wednesday morning where we do drill work. We hope to get them fit so that they can take up other things like an hour of martial arts or swimming. This is so they can eventually become involved in a communitybased project which could involve groups like Civil Defence, but we are still negotiating.”