REWARDS FOR HOME SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 27, 31 January 1917, Page 10

REWARDS FOR HOME SERVICE

TO THE EDITOR. . . . . ■ Sir,—On the . 24th January you drew attention to the above subject.- I and thousands of others .perfectly agree with you; there should be a reward given to those who help to keep the fighters fit and supplied with all kinds of necessaries. In the Maori War, medals were only given to those who took part in any engagement, thus leaving • out the transport service, who. often paid the penalty .with their lives, endured ail the hardships of drudgery and privation, and received no thanks. The same with regard', to those who have built up'the great armies which are now ready to go and do heroic deeds for the Empire. But for the patient workers training smd supplying them with all kinds of equipment for active service, .there would only have been a half-disciplined, ' nonequipped mob, and not fit to meet a foe, even of half their numbers. \Vhy should not these' patriotic men and soldiers be rewarded? .Time, after time I .have had ex-soldiers come to mo and ask if anything could be done for them. Answer, as.the law stands, "Nothing." This is not what it ought to be. Why not give a medal to each of those who is entitled to it, with the words on.one side, say. "Home Defence Service," with the date and.name on the margin? . These medals would be worn and treasured 1 by those who. so worthily earned them. ' This' would only be.doing an.act of justice to those who came forward at a personal disadvantage to ..themselves to serve their country in the time of peril. Trusting this will bo the means of giving a little, honour-to, those who , worked for the benefit of the Empire. —I am, etc., SYDNEY STIDOLPH. Hon. Sec. N.Z. Association of H.M. '. ■ " Veterans.*" - 29th January.