REGRET EXPRESSED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 298, 13 September 1941, Page 11

REGRET EXPRESSED

Delay In Notification To Pilot’s Parents FUNERAL EXPENSES “The whole matter must be regarded as most regrettable,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, replying to an urgent question by Mr. Schramm (Government, Auckland East) concerning notification of the death of an Auckland officer serving with the Royal Air Force at Singapore. Mr. Schramm asked if some better or more accurate method could be adopted when notification of death or injury was made about New Zealanders serving with the Royal Air Force, and whether it was the practice to sell the personal effects of such men to pay their funeral expenses. “Pilot Officer J. F. Hunt, Auckland, was killed in a flying accident at Singapore on August 12,” Mr. Schramm said. “His parents were notified by the Minister iof Defence on August 13 that he was seriously injured. - His father then communicated with friends in Singapore by cable and was immediately informed by cable that his son was killed on August 12. His father then communicated with the. Defence Department and on August 26 he was notified by them that his son died on August 12. “A few days ago the airman’s widow received a request from the president of a committee of adjustment in Singapore for her consent to the sale of his effects to pay for the funeral and other expenses.” The Minister said that regarding the notification of next-of-kin the position seemed to be that, because of the rapid expansion of the service, the case was handled by inexperienced overseas personnel. The accident happened on August 12 and a message was sent from Singapore to Air Headquarters, Wellington, that Pilot Officer Hunt was seriously injured. This was not in accordance with procedure laid down under which all notifications were issued by the Air Ministry in the United Kingdom. Seemingly this departure was realized, but before notification of Pilot Officer Hunt’s death could be communicated by the Air Ministry to the next-of-kin, his father had received private information in response to his own cable that death had supervened after the accident. “On active service all funeral expenses are of course met out of public funds, and the unfamiliarity with King’s Regulations of the junior officers who dealt with this case is, I am afraid, the only reason to which I can attribute this most unfortunate error,” Mr. Jones added. “The expenses in this case have actually been borne by the State. “The proceeds from the sale of Pilot Officer Hunt’s effects will be paid into his estate. The next-of-kin will have an opportunity of indicating any articles which she desires returned to her. I need hardly add that the matter has been taken up urgently with the officer commanding, Singapore, and I am confident that , similar mistakes will not be repeated in future.”

Mr. Jones added that the case was the first of its kind.