AWARDING OF HONOURS

Chronicle (Levin), 24 June 1946, Page 4

AWARDING OF HONOURS

MUCH DISSATISFACTION AT PROCEDURE • AUCKLAND, Juue 23. The dissatisfaction expressed at the meeting of the Auckland Centre of the Red Cross Society over the award of New Year and Birthday hopours, is reflected in sentiments held in many other cpiarters not only in the city but also in surrounding- districts. A feeling that people who have earned recoguition for public work, have been passed over, was expressed by the Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who said on Saturday that he had been questioned on the matter on many occasions. "No one could know less than I do about the aetual procedure of deciding who should reeeive honours, for I liave never been told and have never been consulted, " said IMr. Allum. "All that was done as far as Auckland people were coneerned, was that tlie secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr. G. A. Hayden, rang from Wellington one dav last year and asked the secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic. Council, Mr. H. Wylie, to narae half a dozen people who had been prominent in patriotic work. He said he would not take the names of people who had previouslv been awarded honours and did not give Mr. Wylie an opportunity to consult rae or anvonu else. In other words Mr. Wylie had to make a more or less snap decision aud even then only one person from the six he named, Avas mentioned, It seems to be a cavalier treatment when oue secretary rings anotlier on an important matter like this and asks for recommendations at a moment's notice," said M r. Allum. "One would have imagined that tlie allocation of. the King's honours was something that required much thought to ensure that the awards should go wliere they were most deserved. Tn addition oue would liave thought that coinmon courtesy would have dietated that someone in higli authority would liave made tlie approach. ' ' Mr. Allum said he did not know whctlior anyoue else for Auckland had been approached to reconimend people for honours. As far as he knew Mr." Wylie may have been the only person who was consulted and if that were so, it was a perfunctory procedure. "The thing that upsets rae is that so riiany 'deserving people ift Auckland and in otlier centi'es, should be cdmpletely .passed over, not only on this occasion but also at other. times," said Mr. Allum. "It is extremely regrettable that such a delicate matter should be v'entilated but in view of the gY;lVe dissatisfaction that has been expressed, it is well that the subject should be discussed. For my part, I will not be a partv to any mysterious handling of important affairs and I think it is now desirable that the autliorities in Wellington should give an explanation on how honour5 nre awarded."