KING AND WAR RIBBONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 2

KING AND WAR RIBBONS

PROTESTS AGAINST SALE. It was recently stated by the “Daily Express” that it was understood that the King and the Prince of Wales have made protests to the War Office about the sale of war medal ribbons for conversion into braces, ties and belts.

The original purchaser of the War Office ribbon, Mr Levy has been asked by an official of the War Office to request his customers to refrain from putting the ribbon to such uses. Mr Levy exploined his position. “The ribbon—about a million yards of it —was offered for sale about two years ago,” he said. “As a matter of ordinary business I entered a tender, but of such a low figure that I did not expect it to be accepted. “When 1 found the ribbon was mine without restriction as to its use, I called at the War Office and pointed that out. It was explained to me that the ribbon was sold under ordinary routine, and that its sale had been authorised by Mr Tom Shaw, then Minister of War, it was agreed that, the possibilities of its usage without restriction had been considered, and that it had been decided to place no restrictions upon it.

“I know that a West End store which offered those braces and belts for sale also approached the War Office to make certain that there were no restrictions upon its manufacture. They were assured that there were none. Last week I was rung up by a War Office official and asked if any steps could lie taken to prevent any more being sold to be manufactured into wearing apparel. 1 pointed out that I could not guarantee that. “I was told,- quite frankly, that the King and Prince had objected to the manner of the disposal. This morning, I received a note asking for tenders for 5,000 yards of Royal Air Force ribbon!”