ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 310, 22 March 1928, Page 15

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

SECRETARY CRITICISED RED CROSS CONFERENCE A letter from Mr. W. B. Fisher, honorary secretary of the Dominion executive of the Order of St. John, submitting a list of names to represent the order on the joint committee of the order, and of the Red Cross Society, was severely criticised by Mr. J. A. Fleslier, who presided over the executive meeting of the Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John yesterday. Mr. Flesher considered that the letter was probably sent without .authority, particularly as ' a letter from the Red Cross secretary in Wellington asking Mr. Fisher with what authority he submitted the list, was returned with the following remark written across the corner: “As this communication is incompatible with the fitness of things its acceptance is declined.” Mr. Fisher then wrote to Mr. James Burnett, chairman of the. Joint Committee, explaining that his authority was given him by the Standing Committee of St. John, under instructions from the Dominion executive, and approved ‘by headquarters, London. Sir Heaton Rhodes, however, a member of the executive, and director ol' St. John’s Ambulance, had received no notice, of any meeting empowering Mr. Fisher to write the letter under discussion. Mr. Flesher said that the incident was typical of what had been happening in that office for the last three or four years, and suggested that, as the Red Cross constitution provided for no such representation as Mr. Fisher proposed, a reply should be sent in those terms.