EXPENDITURE BY LEAGUE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1932, Page 7

EXPENDITURE BY LEAGUE

CAMPAIGN FOR ECONOMY

SOME ASTOUNDING SALARIES

SIR THOMAS WILFORD CRITIC

SHOT FIRED IN CHAMBER

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 5.5 p.m. Geneva, Oct. 1.

Mr. W. M. Hughes (Australia) in the budget committee of the League Assembly supported Major W. E. Elliot’s advocacy of a reduction in the secretariat salaries. The salaries of civil servants in most countries had been cut, said Mr. Hughes, yet the supervisory committee wanted the secretariat to be placed out of reach of pecuniary embarrassment. The League was a public body, deriving sustenance from the world’s goodwill, and an attempt to draw an invidious distinction between the League servants and national servants would be likely to influence world opinion against the League.

It is already apparent that the Empire delegates find difficulty in carrying their point in the face of strong European opposition. Sir Thomas Wilford vigorously advocated a reduction in the higher salaries but no interference with lower salaries owing to the cost of living at Geneva. He instanced butter at 2s 6d a pound. There were 1020 permanent and 200 temporary employees in the service of the League and New Zealand was astounded at some of the salaries. .Sir Thomas added that the League’s expenses had greatly increased owing to Geneva being fertile soil for fads and idealists throughout the world who make suggestions for the regeneration of the world. The delegates were not blameless. While the committee was deliberating a Hungarian named Buda fired a revolver and the bullet struck the ironwork outside. Buda was arrested, but it is believed lie is feeble-minded.