IS THERE POLITICAL FAVOURITISM?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 5

IS THERE POLITICAL FAVOURITISM?

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT. ABOUT SALARIES, CRITICISM BY MR. J. ALLEN. Defence matters occupied a prominent place in the discussion' on the Imprest Supply Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. Referring to the Defence Department, Mr. Jamos Allen said ho was afraid that political favouritism was being shown. Ho was not saying that from a party point of view. It would bo remembered that in 1908 he complained in regard to the promotion and salary of the A.A.G. of the Wellington district, who had, ho believed, been favoured. The Hon. R. M'Nab, then Acting-Minister for Defence, promised an inquiry. There was a feeling of injustice on the point iu the service. No inquiry had, however, beenjield. These injustices were being exaggerated to-day., It was his opinion that there were men in the defence forces today with higher qualifications, who had not got the promotion which others had got, and were not getting the pay which men had who, a few years ago, were in the Tanks undef them. Mr. Davey: What about the 'age limit? Mr. Allen: It does not apply to these cases. Sir Joseph: Why not state them? You aro very well informed, I understand. Mr. Allen: Tho information I have got comes to me as a member of Parliament. It does not come from the officers concerned. Everything I have got is s available to any person who cares; to examine the general and district orders and the Estimates. Sir Joseph , : You have put questions to mo similar to those which como from officers themselves. ■ Members: Mention names. Mr.'Allen (to Sir Joseph): Do you want me to mention names? Sir Joseph: Oil, I don't care. Mr. ' Carroll: There is nothing like a direct attack. Mr. . Allen said it was provided, by the regulations that no officer' should receive promotion or increase, of pay without passing the necessary examination. He found that the following officers had passed their necessary examinations : —Captains Richardson (special certificate),-Gardiner, Pilkirigton, M'Ddnald, MickhyLieuts. Chesney and Smythe. Captains , Duigan arid Hickey and Lieut. Sahdlc. had also passed the examination. Those who had riot passed tho necessary examination wero: — Majors Hughes and Humef Captains Secldon, TrasU, Carpenter, and Synidn, Lieut. Standish, Captain Brown (mount-, ed instructor), and Licut.-Col. Joyce. Some Concrete Examples. In tho case of Captain Gardiner, he had been getting £225, and under the Estimates was to get.£2so, but he was entitled under the regulations to £275. This officer ,was an . artillery officer who had passed his-oxamiualion with credit. Lieutenant Saudle, who was his junior, got , £280. Captain Hickey, who had also passed his examination,. was to get, £275 (a-rise of £25), whilst other A.A.G.'s who had not passed £300. Lieuten-ant-Colonel Joyce, who had not passed the examination, was getting £375 (including house allowance, £50). ■As regards Major Hughes, he would like to ask how he got Home? who was. paying his salary? and had .he got leave? If he. was still A.A.G. at Nelson, ho would be getting £300, a rise . from £251. Major Hume was getting:£4oo (including house allowance, £50).. Had he passed his examination? Still ho was getting a rise of £25. Captain Seddon was to get £330 (including house allowance,. £20), or an increase of £30. He had not passed the examination. But in spite of the regulations, ho was getting an increase-, of pay'.' . Then again -there ' was Captain Trask, who was getting £325 (including house allowance, £25), or a rise of £25. Ho had not passed tho necessary examination. Captain Drown was' getting £325, but he .'was not down to receive any rise. .As regards Captain, Richardson, ho was getting' £350 (in-' eluding £25 house allowance). He noticed that. Captain Pilkington was to get a rise of £10. The salary of Major M'Donald was £450 (including £50 house allowance). Ho had passed his examination. A member: How did he pass?: Mr* Allen: I don't know; Continuing, Mr. Allen said that Major M'Donald only had two years' service as a captain, 'whereas others who had also passed with more service got no promotion. Captain Duigan' was' to get \ £275 —a rise of £25— Captain Hickey a similar riso to £275, but some other, A.A.G.'s were getting £300, although ' nono of them had passed. Lieutenant Sandle was to get a riso of £40, but ho did not know why' he-was getting a larger increase'than, other. officers. He'was sorry to have to givo names, but one could not got justice except by bringing tho matter straight out.. The Defenco Council and officers had boeu running the- show to the, detriment of tho —(hear, hears)—and with grave injustice. If one was in tho Wellington office ho could get all the advancement he wanted, but if one wore a hard-working subaltern he could got nothing but injustice. Ho hoped that the matter would now get full attention. A f*oe that Would Never Come. Mr. T. ■ E. Taylor said this country was building up an army to meet a foe which he thought would never como. Mr. Nosworthy: How do you know? ■ Mr. Taylor: There is as much to bo said in support, of my contention as tlienMS to bo said in support of yours. Continuing his remarks, Mr. Taylor ventured the opinion that some of tho. New Zealand officers who wero receiving. £300 a- year would run away from a Japanese cadet, much less a Japanese soldier. .-'.-.. Mr. Nosworthy: That is a reflection on your countrymen. . Mr. Taylor: Our, defence system is calculated to produce officers without qualifications, as it is doing. Why, one would not find a Japanese officer who had not, passed his examination. ' Defence of Major M'Donald. The Hon. G. Fowlds declared that Mr. Allen had been unfair to Major. M'Donald, tho commandant of tho cadets. His salary was now £400 and £50 houso allowance!. Before ho was appointed to the position ho received £325, with house allowance £50 and horse allowance £50. It would be seen that ho was therefore only receiving £25 more to-day. Major M'Donald was specially qualified for the position. The military side of the cadet work was not going to be nllqwcd to dominate the educational side of the cadet life. When 18 years old Major M'Donald was presented with a set of. military books by the Duke of Edinburgh for special military knowledge. Ho had had 18 years' military experience, and had a rare combination of ability and experience. Then, again, ho had been recommended for promotion by every commandant and. acting-commandant. From an educational point of view, Major M'Donald was also the right man in tho right place. Ho was the founder of the public school cadet system in the Wellington district. In every way ho was an enthusiast. . • Mr. T. E. Taylor (ironically).-' Make him commandant of the forces.

Mr. Fowlds: It is necessary for me to stand up for him. Mr. Taylor: He can soimd- his own trumpet all right. Mr. Fowlds said that ho' • believed Major M'Donald was the only officer- in. New Zealand who had qualified for the' : Position of captain and major to the 'ermnnent StafF without having been in the British military forces or without having been sent Home for a lengthy; period. A member:. How did ho pass the examinations? ' ' Mr. Fowlds: I never heard any suggestion that lie passed them in other than a satisfactory manner.. s A member: Are you sure of it? Mr. Fowlds said that the cadet system was being conducted very satisfactorily. In fact, the Government,could not have made any better selection. Mm Herdman (Wellington North), in the course of" a few remarks on the subject, said that it was generally declared that Major M'Donald's success' , had been due not so much, to his own special ability as to his ability to flatter Ministers of the Crown. ■ ; Warm Reply by ths Premier. .. ,Tho Prime Minister said it was very extraordinary, but it was. true, that some matters which ho'referred to could only come from defence officers; If they did their duty officers had nothing to fear, but they should remain outside the. political zone. Any officer. who allowed himself to be- used should bo out of the service, because his duty was to be loyal; If there were any officers who..were taking sides in politics, they should give up their positions.. He was certain that some of the information Mr. Allen had used had not-coine from'the records. Ho had iu- his possession all details as to the salaries of the officers named by him. As regards Captain Gardiner, he was receiving £180 and free quarters two years, ago. This year ho was to get a salary of £260 with free quarters, which ho valued at £50, and a bonus as' adjutant to the Territorials of £25. Ho also found that he also had a servant, who was getting £150 a year. It was proposed to stop the servant business in this, country. ■ Mr. Hino: Who gave him the servant? ' ■ Sir Joseph: I suppose ho was given in connection with the appointment. ■ Continuing his remarks, Sir Joseph stated;that Captain Richardson was, in. his opinion, fairly treated, and he had reason to behevo that ho was satislied, thet was, if anybody was satislied; for ho had £350 per aiuiuni. No officer, had been promoted who had not passed his examination. Ho knew ol cases of officers who were public men ( about whom ho could say something interesting in connection with examinations. '.■'■■-. Mr. Massoy said ho did not .think' that- anyone would boliovo that' Mr. Allen had got his information improperly. . \ .■•'-.. ■At a later stage the' Prime Ministel stated that the Hon. G. Fowlds had capably defended the appointment of Major M'Donald. Mr. Allen had given a number, of names, but'he dealt only with the caso of-Major M'Douald specifically. • .;