CASE OF MAJOR M'DONALD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 694, 20 December 1909, Page 3

CASE OF MAJOR M'DONALD.

STRONG COMMENTS IN PARLIAMENT. When the items in connection with the Public School Cadets (Education Department vote) were: under discussion in the of Representatives, . '■ ; Mr. Allen (Bruce) referred to the position of commanding officer, of the Department. He asked why the present occupant of tho post (Major M'Donald) had been appointed at a salary of JJ4OO per annum, plus .£SO house allowance, whereas the previous occupant of the offico (Colonel Loveday) .-received only -C 320 per annum.- He also wished to know: why other officers of the Defence Department with longer service ; had on previous occasions and again now been overlooked, and Major M'Donald promoted. There was grave dissatisfaction in regard ,to the, matter'.. ' . .. ! ■ Tho Hon.; G. Fowlds . (in reply) said that Major .M'Donald had been connected with an education board for many years. As a result it was, felt ,thnt liis selection for the position would greatly stimulate the cadet movement. Tho Government might have, appointed some-; one with greater military training, but not 60 closely in sympathy with tho school cadot movoment/ The i verdict of- the cadet officers would; be that there had been a very considerable improvement since ho took charge.

"Something to be Cleared Up." ' .Mr. Massey' said- Jie had . heard of Major M'Donald,, but he did not know him. It seemed to him, however, that there was something which required to be: cleared lip. Tho official in question was receiving a salary of XIOO a year, ,£SO- houso, allowance,, and ,£IOO for travelling rapenscs. ■ Mr. I'owlds: 110 only receives travelling expenses actually, incurred. , . Mr. Massey .(rosuming) ! said tliat ' Major. M'Donald had. to start with X 450 clear. His predecessor '(Colonel Loveday), who was thoroughly woll qualified, and who did all .the' organising work in connection with the cadet system, received only .£320 -per annum. The' terms. of the appointment seemed to bo extraordinary, especially in these times of retrenchment/ He might add that ho believed that every man'should bo paid according to his merits and responsibilities. There was, as he had said, - 'something which ,required further explanation. Why, the head of the Defence Department, : Colonel Robin, received onlyabout J!500 per"annum. ' . , : i Tho Prime .Minister:;Xs2s. : : , Mr. Massoy: There seems to be some disproportion, surely?: ••

Ministor Defends Appointment. t. Tho Hon. G. Fowlds said ho did not think Mr. Massoy was justified in his criticism. Whilst it was truo that these were days of retreiiihhiont, it was equally truo that'there was a desire , for the promotion of military training.- It was intended to'work in as part of tho universal training system, a snperior cadet system. He did not know the qualifications of tho other officers of tho Department. It was .-essential for tho successful .-carrying out of tho cadet, system that the commanding officer should combine the. qualities of a know, ledgo of tho school sido as well as capability on the: educational sido. Major M'Donald was, in -• his opinion, specially qualified for' tho position/ As a mattor of fact, he was ' tho officer who really organised the cadot movement in. tho Wellington district. : Mr. Massey: I wnnt you to answer only one question: How is it that Major M'Donald recoivcs iE'JSO, whilst Colonel Loveday received only ,£320? -" ' , . . Mr. Fowlds: Major M'Donald was previously rccoiving .£t'2s in tho position which he held, and yoir could not oxpcct him to bo put in a now position and his salary reduced. .

Mr. Allen Returns to the Attack. Air. Allen held that a grave injustice had beon dono to other' officors. ■ There"were three majors and fivo. captains, who wore senior *u Major M'Ponald, but had roccived for years .past lesspay. /I'hcnMhoro wero twelve captains of tho same rank' as Captain M'Douald then was,. but received less pay. Somo of these officers Had. given nip tho whole of thoir lives to military work.'One of these officers applied for profnotion, .but did not receive it for twelve months. Major M-Donald appeared to have been shoved • forward with great rapidity Ho was now. .'5425, whilst the other officers

to whom he had referred received only from e£2so to eCUOO. Ono of these officers bad been sent to England for training, and had no other prospect but a military life. He (Mr. Allen), had-brought up the matter of this o'fficer last year, and lie had got u promise that inquiries would bo made. Political Influonco With regard to tho appointment in question, it was his (Mr. Allen's) opinion that influence had . been at work, and he did not say that without having a great deal . of justification, ibe Minister had said that because Major Al Donald had been a member of an Education .Board he would make the best appointment. Mr. I'owlds: Ho was inoro qualified. ' .Mr. Massey: Because ho was a member, of an Lducation Board? Surely- not! Mr. Allen: It would appear that an officer requires to take up a civil position before lie can get on. Why, to-day the.v were precluded Irom being appointed to Education Boards, yet the way to get military promotion was to get a civil position like-- that of member of an i!,dueation Board. ¥ r lu'? (! w 01 . 1 .(Ellesmere) "pointed out that Major M Donald, with four 1 years' service, was drawing more salary than officers of higher rank and longer servico who were-in charge of . district?. . Massey moved that tho vote for Major M Donalds salary of ,£333 for ten months be reduced by .£33 as an indication that the House was'not satisfied with tho Minister's explanation in regard to it. . Tho amendment was rejected by 41 rotes