RUMPUS OVER HONOURS LIST

Chronicle (Levin), 22 June 1946, Page 5

RUMPUS OVER HONOURS LIST

-Press Association

AUCKLAND MAYOR DISGUSTED

Rii Tp.learavh—

AUCKLAND, June 21, "In botli the Xew Y.ear and Birth-, d'ay Honours lists this year, Ihe ' plums ' for Red (.'ross work wept to t'he headquartei-s stalf :n Wellington -and the Transport Corps in Auckland vvliich lias (lone such outstaiiding work, received no recognition, " said Mr. K. C. j Aekins at tlie annual meetiug of the j Auckland Centre 'ot the Red Cross(Society. ' ' Tliese workers in Auckland should have been revomniernled to his j Majesty for decoration." Soldiers alsoj felt hu'rt that. the Auckland Transport j Corps which had done so much forj them', had not appeared in the awards. Zilr, Aekins suggested headquarters sliould be asked to take steps to have an appropriato awaj'd made. / " lt is difficult to- discover exactly lunv to get into tliese honours lists,'' remarked the president, Aiajor-Genei-al P. 11. Bell. "Xo oue really knows whb niakes these reconiiueiulation.s. ' We are taking steps to see that recommeiulations from this centre are sent to sonie body, probably Doniinioh headquarters alid it will be iip to them ta subinit these to the eorreet autliority. Of course the numbcr of awards is alvvays limited and there are thousands deserv ing them." ."1 tried to discover w-hile I was in Wellington reecntly vvhy all the libnours went to Wellington," said tlie; cliainnan, Mr. A. K. Fenwick. "Red Cross oilicials there assu red nie they had not made any recomiiieiulations noi had they been asked fpr tliem." Tlie Mavor, Ylr.'J. A. (J. Allum: "J have never been directly or i ndi rectl.i j consulted at any timo about rec.o.mmen dations for the honours lists but 1 believe organisations such as this oue are consulted in sonie way. I suggest vou make further liiquiries. " Mr. F. V. I-Iorne: "The National Patriotic Fund Board in Wellington pul forward the rerommendations. " Mr. Allum: "1 am a lueniber of that board and I am becoming very indignant at learning of this. 1 knew nothing about it. " Mr. Horne: "My faets are eorreet." Mr. Allum: "Then it is disgraceful. Perhaps I had better tell the nieeting of sometliing wliieh happencd which has disgusted nie. The Auckland secrctary, Mr. II. Wylie, received a telephone call from the Fund Board in Wellington asking for recommendations for the Honours list. Ile asked for time to consult me but he was not allowed to do so. Ile was told the reeommendations had to be given at onee over the telephone. Xot oue name which he submitted was aeeepted except oue ladv (and she was not tlie Mayoress) who was given an 'houour for something quite dilferent."'