Original Correspondence.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 699, 27 October 1909, Page 5

Original Correspondence.

[ tVe do not hold ourselves resjmnsible for the opinions ex/missed by correspondents .] TO THK EDITOR, Sib, —In reading your valuable paper the other week, I noticed that Sergt. Forrest had tied with a Corporal Norris for the district medal, and that the medal had been awarded to Norris owing to the greater general efficiency of the battalion aud company to which he belongs than that to which Sergt. Forrest is attached. Now, sir, I consider this is a rank injustice to a man of Sergt. Forrest's stamp, to punish him for the supposed fault of his company, and much more so, for the fault of his battalion. I think that the people of Alexandra should resent in a very practical maimer such one-sided methods. In the drill book it is laid down that ties shall be decided in a certain manner, but I have never heard of a shooting tie being decided iu the manner adopted by Col. Smythe. I' do not know if MiFreed, tho Officer Commanding the Alexandra Rifles, has protested against the awarding of the medal in the manner described, but I hear that Mr Hewitt, late captain of the corps, is now. in communication with the Defence Council about it. I sincerely hope that the people of Alexandra and the district generally will show that their sense of justice is still present, and that a public protest will be sent to the Minister of Defence against the treatment meted out to one of Otago's most faithful aud best volunteers.—l am, etc., Justice. Duuediu, October 22nd, 1909.