EMPIRE ORDER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 25, 24 October 1918, Page 8

EMPIRE ORDER

I ALLEGED INVIDIOUS DISTINCTIONS

[;■ A QUASHED MOTION

1 "The next business is Mr. Hutcheson's motion," said Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, chairman of the Wellington War Kelief Association, after the conclusion of the ordinary business of the meeting yesterday. ! He proceded to p'bint outthat the meeting I' would first have to decide whether the .discussion should be taken, in commit- ■; tee or not; If it were not taken in ) committed, or "at least in any case, ho j would ask Mr. C. M. Luke to take the I Mr , .' , J. Hutcheson said thai what he i had to say could as well be said in the {open, as he did not intend.to reflect on i anyone, nor would he say anything that j would give offence in any quarter. Ho | ; could flood the Press with it-but he deI eired to be restrained and moderate, and !"had therefore brought it beforo the

-board. . ■ So far the subject of the motion referred to had not been submitted to the I Press representatives, who were entirely j in the dark'as'to what was l>eing so furI tively discussed. . Mr. James M'lntosh questioned very i much whether it was a matter that the 'association should be called upon to disj cuss. It was a very delicate matter, • particularly so in the case of the chairj, man (Mr. Tripp). :. Mr. J. Leivis: It'e a very delicate matI' ter for a lot of us. , ,-"Y ~ t ( Mr. Hutcheson said point blank that I if his motion was not to be taken in i the open he would certainly not movo iit in committee.- What he had to say ! could be said,before the King. H Mr. A. P. Atkinson said that by not i disoussing such a matter in the open i they were in a measure passing a vote jof censure on theniselves._ There wm j surely no harm in discussing fully, con- '■' stitutionally, and with profit such ft subj ject. They were not a set of firebrands, i surely—and should not discuss such a I matter" in a hole-and-corner manner. !'■• Mr. Sidney Kirkealdie said that he i-'took it,that they were,a set of business ! men called in to do epecific work. He j did not think this came within the scope i of their ' ! At this stage Mr. Tripp.begged to be ! allowed to vacate the chair in favour of I Mr..C. M. Luke.: Aβ no objection was Toieed, with the exception of a mild one from Mr. Luke himself, the latter gen. ■tlernan took tho chair. j On doing so he said that on the sub-. i ieot matter of the motion they could I told opinions fls individuals, but it did ; not concern the association as a body.

;■ Mr. James M'lntosh said it was; a ' criticism of tho Government, and, 1 through'the Government, His Excellency !,the Governor and the Xing. That f had 'to, be remembered, i' v Mr: Hutoheson, who, waa obdurate in I Ws. determination not to have the motion diseuseed otherwise than in the open, eaid that these honorary titles were being bestowed on workers connect'l ed with voluntary patriotic bodies; in- !' deed, there was no other standard likely, j If they'were , not to criticise the fitness j of(people to receive honours for volun- ; try duty, who were? They, as the exe- !- cutive of the War Relief Association. ■ fihouH not,only deal with it, bui should : initiate such discussions' with _ other i .bodies of a kindred ,naiure, leaving it j for them to accept or reject as they felt j disposed. He was quite able' to state j liis opinion without hurting the feelings i. of anyone or without- committing the !.' offence of lese majeste. !''■ Mr. George' Shirtoliffe was strongly of !■ the opinion that they should go into i committee. ;' Mr. C. A. Ewen .considered that it , was not a. matter that should be brought !'/before the association. !' Mr. Luke, as chairman, inquired whe- '' ther the meeting asked for his ruling. '; Mr. A. E. Atkinson said that before K the chairman ruled he would like to say ',' a word or two. They were not-a set ' of busy-bodies who wished to make ''■ trouble, but the motion, remotely per- ■ haps) affected the efficacy of the work S in which they were engaged. Their i own chairman was one of the honorary j -workers who had the necessary qnalificul; tion for.the honour in the opinion of ! the authorities, and therefore it did con- ; cern them. Indeed,. it was impossible i to say, that it was no .concern of theirs, j as it did concern the work they were

■■> helping or hindering. : Mr.'Lulco said he -din , .not intend to ■ rule the motion out. Hβ was going to :. throw the onus on the meeting. I:,- Mr.'Even then moved that the meet- ■' ing go into 'committee, to discuss Mr. ;- ; .. Hutcheson'e motion. 'Sir. ' Shirtcliffe I,''■seconded the.motion. •' • ii- ..It .was moved as an amendment by Mr. [-'Atkinson that the discission bo taken j l ' "in tho open." . !■ Mr. Tripp said that; in the circum- |:. etauces he would not vote, and Colonel !: Hughes said that as lie was still, more r or less, a soldier, he would not vote, as jv.the.honoura'werothe- gift of the King. / r'.'rha chairman ruled- that those who SV'did not intend to vote would not be en■■■"tifled to take part in the discussion. i On the amendment being put it was j lost by 7 votes to 4. . / I Mr. , Hutcheson, who declined to move I his motion in committee, ihen handed ■'copies of the motion to the Press. It j. read as follows:— . I'- , '.. Whereas so many loyal subjects of j . the King are whole-heartedly and nn- ■■' selfishly devoting themselves to patriotic work throughout the DominI ion, and whereas it is unwise and J impolitic to select certain of their number for special distinction, thereby imposing hurt on the feelings of those not "so rewarded who.se services, I,'"''.although" obscure, may yet have en!;i tailed much greater sacrifice; and,

j..:. whereas a further wrong is done to ■ . those who while proclaiming their .- inherent rights as members of tho j '.'■; British Empire, are assiduously and ;"" cheerfully seeking to discharge the i.;. accompanying duties and obligations '■ without desire or need for any suoh !.' etimiilant, and whereas no law can ; ■' compel the frame of mind so necesj ■■'. isary to the sincere and heartfelt coi operation of all , classes of society for t'i the solution _ of the vital social ': problems arising from the war: ! , new -be it resolved that this ExecuI ' tive ComnHttee of the War Relief i.-. Association of Wellington do direct j the attention of the Government to

> the danger of Jhe continuance, of the J :. distribution of decorations of tho |- ; "prder nf the British Empire" or j . any similar invidious distinctions, ■ . and, ask that representations be made I to the Imperial authorities praying ■ - for their immediate discontinuance. J '.- (2) That o, copy of this resolution I bo sent to each Minister of the i'. ' Crown nnd to the chairman of every I ', acknowledged patriotic society in j New Zealand.