NEW ZEALAND CROSS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 150, 31 July 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND CROSS.

AN UNUSUAL PETITION.

[From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 31.

| A most unusual petition, „ ahd one I | which raises a very interesting question, i I was that laid on the table of the House , to-day by Mr I). H. Guthrie (Oroua) on behalf of eight holders of the New Zealand Cross. It will be remembered that . this medal was granted for special gallantry during the Maori Wars, and, as a decoration for valour, ranks next only to the Victoria Cross itself. As a matter of fact, only thirteen crosses have been awarded. The decoration is unique, as in no other of Great Britain's many wars hg.s there been a special decoration for valour in one campaign. The holders of the Gross are thus very jealous of their honour, and they complain that one of them was wrongly granted and asked for its recall. Thi& ( was the medal granted in 1898 to H. C. IW. Wrigg, of Auckland, for services rendered in 1867, the petitioners statS that in 1898 they asked the House for an enquiry into the circumstances under which Mr Harry Charles Wm. Wrigg, of Auckland, had bestowed upon him the decoration of the New Zealand •Cross. A committee of the House enquired into the circumstances, and reported next session that it was of the opinion that Wrigg was not entitled to the Cross. Notwithstanding this finding, the Cross has not been recalled, which the petitioners submitted was i calculated greatly to depreciate what was intended and considered to be the highest reward for distinguished service in the field. In 1906 and 1908 representations were made to have -the evidence taken by the committee printed, and this was done, the papers being laid on the table of the House in the session of 1909, with the exception, however, of one paper, which petitioners allege contained most important evidence of misrepresentation byl Wrigg. The petitioners pray that the bestowal of the Cross on Wrigg be cancelled and his name erased from the roll of the holders thereof, he having obtained the decoration by misrepresentation of the facts to the Government, and to the eighteen gentlemen who gave his testimonials. They respectfully submit that every wrong has a right, and, if after a lapse of thirty years this decoration could be-bestowed on Wrigg under a misapprehension that he had earned it, the decoration can be cancelled when it is proved beyond doubt that he did not merit such a distinction. It is submitted that there are cases where decorations have been bestowed on persons which have been cancelled when it has been found out that the persons were not entitled thereto. The petition is signed by the following holders of the Cross: —H. W. Northcroft, A. Lingard, Gilbert Mair, J. M. Roberts, Ben Biddle, F. J. Mace, G. T. Preece, and C. Maling.