A SOLDIER'S BADGE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 252, 23 October 1919, Page 8

A SOLDIER'S BADGE.

DEFACED BY 'WEARER. RESIGNATION ACCEPTED. : (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUXEDIX, this day. | i Several months ago it was reported to! the committee of the Dunedin Returned j Soldiers* Association that one of their,; members had defaced his .badge by cut-, ting off the crown. He was communi- j cated with and asked to appear before : the committee to make an explanation.] He advised the secretary that he haa j lost his badge, but failed on every occa-' sion to meet the committee. La6t evening he forwarded a letter to the committee, in the course of which he stated: "By the way it was given out. per medium ' of the Presw and pulpit and other ways, the great war was for democracy, and; not in defence of any mon.irchial regime.! Our house was well represented there. I had fiv e brother? there, and am in saying that without perhaps one exception they were not fighting for royalty. 1 am not eulTering with a sore conscience. 1 don't consider there was anything, criminal in my action, and 1 had a right i to wear the tiadse ac I likeil. If. how-!, ever—and I have good reason to think! otherwise—the executive is any criterion I • of the general body, f made a mistake in linking up with the association, so, all : ; things considered, the straightcvt and best course for mc to adopt is to irrevocably resign. In conclusion, I may eav I that you could have had thin weeks agoi merely for the asking.*' ' Lieut.-Colonel J. H. Jloir said he thought it was a matter of gross impertinence for the man to write such a I letter. He would move that the offender I !he expelled from the association, and that legal action be taken against him for disfiguring his badge. I Mr. McManus moved ac an amendment I "That the man's resignation be aceepited,"' and after discussion the motion was J carried.