GIFTS COMMISSIONER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 8

GIFTS COMMISSIONER

QUESTION OF APPOINTMENT A PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT STATEMENT BY MINISTER (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Mar. 23,“I regret to say there appears to have been some misunderstanding in regard to the procedure in making the appointment of « gifts commissioner with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force,’ said the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones), in a statement. “The premature announcement that Mr James Mellmg, town clerk of Auckland, has been appointed has caused the Government the National Patriotic Fund Board, and Mr Melling considerable embarrassment. It was intended that the National Patriotic Fund Board should receive applications or nominations for the appointment of a gifts commissioner, make a selection, and submit it to the Government for its approval, Unfortunately. the choice of the National Patriotic Fund Board nominee was given wide publicity prior/to two important conditions being fulfilled, first, the Government’s approval of the selection made, and. secondly, the medical examination in order to establish the fact that the person selected by the National Patriotic Fund Board was physically fit to carry out overseas the duties required of him. “At the moment, no one can foretell the ultimate destination or field of operations of the Second N.Z.E.F., and it will be appreciated that the duties of gifts commissioner will /not only be onerous, but may also have sto e carried out under trying climatic and physical conditions. The Government appreciates fully Mr Melling’s offer of service. It has the highest regard for his ability and administrative qualifications, and would have been pleased to consider his nomination as gifts commissioner, but, unfortunately, the examination by the medical board has shown that, owing to injuries received while serving his country during the last war, a further period of service in the active theatre of operations would endanger Mr Melling’s state of health. It is with regret that the Government is unable, for. the reasons stated, to make this appointment.”