ANOTHER SIDE TO RED CROSS DISCONTENT

Chronicle (Levin), 3 July 1946, Page 7

ANOTHER SIDE TO RED CROSS DISCONTENT

- Press Association

LARGELY ONE MAN'S OPINION

By Telegraph-

: WELLINGTON, Juiy 2. JLn reference tq the press messago i'rom Auckland concerning tlie resigua tiou.of the Auckland Ked Cross transport drivers, tlie emergency committee j of the Douiinion executive of the 'Society met and issued the following statement: 4 'Tlie matter was rofcrrod to the chairinan of tho Auckland Centre, Mr. A. lv. Fenwick, who stated that tliis was the lirst lie had learued of any discoiitent. Ilis impression was that the resigualion of nieinbers was in the exercise of their iutention 1o go into recess, Ihe transport service being regarded as a wartinie job. Some hail liusbauds and sous returning and would not be able to give tlie time required. In some cuses cars were now required by liusbauds for business purposes. 44 Mr. Fenwick further stated that iieilhcr lie as chairinan nor his executive, k'new aiiytliiug' whatever of tlie press statement until it appeared in tlie newspapers. 4 4 The emergency commit tee of the j Douiinion executive points out that .tlie transport section of tlie Ked Cross luis ils own councii on wliich the Auckland Centre is represented and tlie Auckland reprosenlative luis attcmjed all meetings. Tlie records of tliese slitnv tliat no complaiut of this nature lia.s emanated from tlie Auckland Transport Corps. It would appcar from tlie statemeuts made by .Mr. F. V. 1 lorne (wliicli lie adniits as being his own persoiial opinion), that the diseontent is centred largcly in hiinself and tliat he has used his resignation as a means of airing liis personal grievance. Conlirmation of this belief is ' given by publislicd statements- made by Mr. Ilorne recent ly on another issue. From recent returns of transport meui- ' bers received from Auckland, it is evident that a liumber of members did not attcnd the meeting and those who have remained loyal shouhl be adeiiuate to fulfil transport obligations which, since the conclusion of hostilities, have eonsiderably coiitracted. An • assurance •had beeii given by the Auckland trans- , port that .although in recess, members woukl be available to respond to emergency calls. I "Tlie faet that the Auckland executive was in no way consiilted or informed by Mr. Ilorne, as commamlant, savours of discourtesv on his part to the Auckland Centre executive and seems inconsistent with his profession of lovalty ' to that body. | "lii conclusion the society acknowledges the exceptionally line record of service ' which staiuls to the credit of tlie Auckland transport uuder the able guidance of .Mr. Ilorne and deplores wliat has luippenml to mar it wliicli, in • eJTect, does a great disservice to tlie i enusc of the Ked Cross."