LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2511, 12 July 1915, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE PROPOSED PAYMENT TO PROFESSOR CARDSTON. I < ... | PROTESTS AND A REPLY, Sir, —I wish to express briefly my emphatic protest against the proposed payment of £25,0 apd l expenses to Mr. Cardston for his services during the Carnival. Such proposed payment is a gross abuse of public benevolence, and is certainly an afterthought to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund idea. As a contributor to the fund in mans ways, together with hundreds of other citizens ill this and other towns, this payment comes as a bolt from the sky. The Patriotic Society, or committee, have 110 power, legal or moral, to apply the money collected to any purpose other than that intended. This is misusing the money and must be stopped. The Carnival Queen idea cannot be claimed by Mr. Cardston, nor has he a claim upon anybody for his services. There are many people in this town who rendered good and valuable work and devoted much timo ; and money to the success of the Carnival, and the appreciation of that work, for such a noble cause, lies acop in the hearts of all loyal citizens. As a contributor to the fund, I must object, and very strongly; too, to this payment. —I am, etc.,. * CONTRIBUTOR,

Sir,—l would like to ask through your valuable paper if it is correct thatProfessor. Cardston receives £250, besides expenses, for his services for tho Queen Carnival? I,think it is outragepus for any man to receive such a huge sum for six or seven weeks at the outside. Thero appeared in the lewspapcrs some time back a letter irom Professor Cardston to tho effect that, he had offered Ins services to the country free. If that is so, now is the.'time for him to show his .loyalty to the cause audi hand back three-quarters of his enormous wage to tho cause for which it was collected, namely, our Wounded and Disabled Fund, which will require every single penny we can collect. Why, sir, it is ridiculous for such a sum to be given to any man for so short a service. ,Why it is just as good: to be Master of Queen Carnival ceremonies as be Prime Minister of tho Dominion, for he draws just as big : a wage in comparison. By the timo all the hands are paid who are connected with the Carnival staff, how much of tho fund will, be left? I reckon that tho public, who wcro called upon to subscribe, and did so whole-heartedly and liberally, should liave a voice in tho expenditure of their money. .Why, if '.'all" who assisted in. making the Caraifal a success put in their claim liko Professor Cardston, what then? In conclusion, Sir, seeing that Professor Cardston eot his motor-car and hotel expenses paid besides his £250, might I make a. simple suggestion, to give him tho lot, say, £73,000? —l am, etc., CUI BONO.

tin tho foregoing letters being submitted to Mr. H. G. Hill, tho chairman of tho Patriotic Society, that gentleman made the following statement ■ "Your' correspondents seem to have misuuderstood tho_ position entirely. So as to remove any misunderstandings let me briefly state the position. Pro-' feasor Cardston came to us with a complete scheme for a. Queen Carnival procession . and coronation ceremony, ■ and undor Ordinary oircumßtances he would have named a fee probably based upon results. As this Carnival was for patriotic purposw ho left the honorarium, if any, in our hands. Thero is no questioning tho fact that Professor Cardston has excelled himself, especially, as regards tho coronation ceremony. Lady Kolburn has written to him, convoying her congratulation at the magnificent spectacle. Her Excellency Lady Liverpool has also expressed hearty approbations In fact, I have never heard of one adverse opinion.. Professor Cardston has been with us threo months (hot six weeks j as one of the correspondents state), and into that space of timo he has crammed a good six months' work. On that basis his salary would work out at £500 a year, slightly less, I think, than the Prime Minister receives. Then it must bo understood that this class of expert business is the Professor's livelihood, and it may be some mouths before he is in tho position to add to his earnings, whilst tho others who assisted so excellently in connection with' the Carnival have their various occupations to revert to. It is ridiculous to assume that a liuge Carnival can be run without expense, and I venture to predict that the expenses will be less than any other similar function held in New Zealand. Tho executive of the Patriotic Society comprises some of Wellington's best-known business men, and they were unanimous in the opinion that the results of Professor's Cardston's work ' justified, both from a business as well as a patriotic standpoint, payment of the sum mentioned, especially _in view of the fact that 'another patriotic carnival committee have paid their organiser (not Professor Cardston) double the amount for one month's work."-