RED CROSS EXPENSES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 881, 6 December 1916, Page 9

RED CROSS EXPENSES.

A CRITICISM RESENTED. EXPLANATION BY EXECUTIVE. The Automobile Association's criticism of the amount paid in expenses in connection with Red Cross funds was discussed at the meeting of the Red Cross Executive yesterday. The subject was raised in the following letter from Mr A. S. Clarkson, president of the Canterbury Automobile Association: "At a meeting of my committee held on Wednesday last, during a discussion I in regard to my association's work in i connection with the Red Cross Motor ! Carnival, it was mentioned that it jhad been stated that the secretary of ! the Red Cross Committee had recently been voted a sum of £l5O, in addition to his ordinary salary or emolument. It was understood that this vote was in recognition of extra work in connection with the 'Our Day' Red Cross appeal, and was voted to him by the committee controlling it. As my association was one of the organisations which assisted in the 'Our Day' effort and is actively assisting in the projected Red Cross Motor Carnival, I am instructed by my committee to ask if you would be good enough to inform my committee of the full facts in regard to the matter referred to. The current report that your secretary has received an amount as mentioned (without the full facts and reasons being also ecmallv known) lends rallier to retard subscriptions; hence our inquiry." The chairman (Mr A. E. G. Rhodes) explained the situation of the fund with regard lo salaries, etc. He first dealt with the Red Cross Depot, in the case of which, he said, the rent had been privately donated. At present there were only two salaries being paid in this department, and these were being paid bv privately raised subscriptions. With regard to the matter raised in the letter, he slated that the fund's secretary was the secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association, and from this association he received a small sum as salary, while he had to provide his own clerical assistance. Ever since the Red Cross organisation had commenced its work in the secretary's rooms, there had been absolutely nothing spent in rent, or in salaries for the stall" of clerks employed. The only sum paid was to the secretary. During the period of 21 months, the secretary had received only £l2O. This was most unfair considering the very large amount of work which had to be done by Mr Treleaven and his staff in connection with the Red Cross. The execulive was unanimous in that the secretary had been unfairly treated, and considered that he should have £l5O to make up deficiencies, as he was really out of pocket since he undertook Red Cross work. This amount was to be paid from the fund's balance of £3500 voted to the Our Day Fund. The amount practically did not include one penny of the money subscribed by the public. The execulive was thankful to Ihe Automobile Association for bringing the matter up, as it was an affair which should be ventilated. Mr E. Nordon moved that the chairman be asked to make a statement in explanation of the position, to be presented to the newspapers. The secretary had not received 1 per cent, of Ihe total money he had handled for the fund.

Oilier members: One per cent! Not a quarter per cent! Mr Nonlon said that had he been in Mr Clarkson's place, he would have ascertained the true facts of the case before making the statements lie did at the Automobile Association's last meeting. Mr M. J. Gresson explained that the secretary received £5 a week from the fund, from which the outgoing in rents and salaries amounted to CI 5/- per week. The secretary bad an enormous amount of work lo do, when il was remembered that (here were over 120 branches with which the secretary had to keep in touch.

Mr .F. A. Flesher, speaking as' chairman of the "Our Day" Fund,! said that the action of those making the allegations was cruel ill the extreme, lie compared the expenses of the British Hed Cross, in which case <Sd in the £ was taken in expenses, with the New Zealand rate of expenses. He doubled if even one penny in the £ was used in expenses in New Zealand. He consideied that the report of the Automobile Association's meeting which i appeared in "The Sun, - ' should have]

been corroborated before publica- j tion. This was a matter of common decency. The methods adopted savoured very much of American journalism. The matter had been put before the editor of "The Sun," who had said that it was a maiier for the people who were responsible for publicly making the statements. Mr R. H. Mitchell, the Government auditor, said that he could certify that the secretary's charges were quite correct. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) said! that he had heard the rumours com-! plained of, and he confessed that he; had been shocked. The chairman added that the total; expenses in connection with the! "Our Day" Fund had amounted to { £IOO, which included the charges for; advertising, printing, and erecting all! the stalls. Mr Flesher then said that he could prove that the secretary's income j was two-thirds of what it was before | he undertook Red Cross work. He stated that he thought the secretary! would be better off if he refused all

Red Cross work :ind paid £1 a week to the Red Cross Fund. It was decided that the chairman and Mr Flesher prepare a statement to be presented to the newspapers, and also to draft and sign a letter to the Automobile Association.