NEW ZEALAND WAR MEDALS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 237, 6 October 1891, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WAR MEDALS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Your correspondent "Ex-Imperial'" , writes thab several old comrades who nb first prized this medal, now consider that owing to its recent indiscriminate distribution they now attach very little honour to the "ribbon." This seoms ungenerous, and is not bon camarade. In the Imperial service regiments obtain their medals as a part of the service routine; not so our forces. I note, for example, Colonel McDonnell has only now obtained arrears of the small pension attached to the New Zealand Cross, for which he was recommended for distinguished acts of bravery somewhere about a quarter of a century ago, and he only received the cross two or three years ago. " Ex-Imperial" further states that the Imperial Government consented to the issue of the New Zealand war medal to the colonial troops subject to condition that officers commanding districts cercify the applicant had been on " active service." This condition is, I believe, universal as regards the Imperial service, but for our colonial forces it was much more stringent and limited, viz., that two officers should certify that the applicant was at least once " under fire."—l am, etc., Ex-Member Colonial Forces.