RED CROSS CONTROVERSY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25796, 17 March 1945, Page 6

RED CROSS CONTROVERSY

OFFICIAL VIEW OF R.S.A. REITERATED SUPPORT FOR PATRIOTIC > APPEALS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 16. The joint statement issued by Mr W. Perry M.L.C., Sir James Elliott, and Mr J. T. Spears was referred to by Mr B. J. Jacobs, Dominion president of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association for comment. “ The salient point of the statement, Mr Jacobs said, “ is the admission that a mistake has been made. The principle that should have governed the appointment—and by a natural corollary the error committed —has always constituted the sole reason for the protest made by the association, which has never at any time pilloried or directed a public attack against Mr Meachen, regarding whom many complimentary references have been made. Mr Jacobs added that the association had already passed a resolution supporting the argument of Mr Pefry and the others that this mistake should not operate to influence the public against continuing its generous subscriptions to the patriotic funds which were for the benefit and comfort of servicemen and women. They had no part in the incident, and the need for money for them remained unaltered.