THE O.B.E.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18801, 2 March 1923, Page 8

THE 0.8. E.

ITS FUTURE LIMITATIONS. {From Ode Own Correspondents.) LONDON, January 9. Tho King having authorised alterations in the statutes of the Order of the British Empire, the amended statutes have been officially issued. It is ordained that tho Military Division of tho First Class, or Knights and Damos Grand Cross, shall not have more than 10 members, while the Civil Division shall be limited to GO. The Military Division of the Second Cass, or Knights and Dames Commanders, is to have at the outside 30 members, while tho Civil Division shall not exceed 180. Tho Military Division of the Third Class, or Commanders, is not to comprise more than J. 40, and the Civil Division not more than 730. As for the Military Division of tho Fourth Class, or Officers, the appointments thereto arc limited to 49 a year, while 160 may be made for the Civil Division. The annual number of appointments to the Military Division of the Fifth Class, or Members, is not to exceed 68, with 240 to tho Civil Division. If, however, the full numbers of appointments to the first three classes are not made in any year, tho vacancies may bo filled in subsequent years, but similar vacancies iu tbc fourth and fifth classes may not be filled iu succeeding years. On the other hand, persons already belonging to the Order' are not to bo counted in the number allotted to each class. 0.8.E.’s WORTH HAYING. The New Year Honours list has produced general satisfaction among junior regimental officers, of whom a number- have been rewarded with tho O.D.E. for service in Ireland prior to the truce. Practically every act of gallantry for which the 0.8. E. was awarded in Ireland would (says the Evening Standard) have earned tho V.C. in a pukka campaign, but owing to tho political nature of the conflict this could not lie given. However, in military circles the Irish 0.8.E.’s really do count as very much worth having, and every officer possessing one is looked upon as a marked man. The only pity is that there is no distinguishing mark on the ribbon. Now Zealanders who have recently become possessed of rank in tho Orner (Civil Division) include: C.8.E.: Dr 11. P. Pickerill, Mr W. B. Montgomery, and 3F- B. E. H. Tripp. 0.8. E.: Mr W. H Leader (headmaster, Clyde Quay School)