NO HIGH SALARIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 169, 5 June 1940, Page 5

NO HIGH SALARIES

A RUMOUR DENIED VOLUNTARY PR AISED The essentially voluntary nature of the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund Appeal, now in progress throughout New Zealand Avas stressed in a statement from the headquarters of the appeal at Wellington last week, when an impression that high salaries were being paid to those concerned was categorically denied. "From letters I have received" said Mr J. Abel, honorary Dominion organiser of the appeal, "it appears that an impression has been circulated that those organising the Sick. Wounded and Distress Fund Appeal are receiving, high salaries for their services. I wish to correct that impression. The spirit of the Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John is one of ready and voluntary service. Of course there are salaried officers in permanent positions in the Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, but even these officers have given the tremendous amount of work necessitated by this appeal for no reimbursement whatever. In addition, the owners of motor cars have free-ly-given the use of their vehicles and their petrol—a considerable item these days—in their efforts to help the appeal, while others have given their time and services. We consider it a reflection upon the thousands of magnificent helpers throughout the Dominion who arc giving their time freely and willingly to say that they are in any way paid for their efforts. People who carelessly circulate reports of this nature arc doing a disservice to the sick and wounded and are discouraging the .great army c? workers who are throwing their weight into this campaign from one end of New Zealand to the other."