HONOUR THE BRAVE.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 7, 18 October 1919, Page 3

HONOUR THE BRAVE.

The " Also Started."

HIS EXCELLENCY the GovernorGeneral, lately conferred the distinction of "The Order of the British Empire" on several reputable citizens, who liyed in Now Zealand during the Great War, and who took a part in the activities common to everybody during that period. There were thousands of people in New Zealand, who without any ostentation whatever and without hope of reward, worked to the limit of their means, and of their skill and ability. The spirit of self-sacrifice is not dead even yet. It is.for instance quite a commoji thing in Auckland at the present" moment for working poople—and notably waterside workers to voluntarily hand a portion of their wages on pay day towards the upkeep of bemevolent institutions and hospitals. If unohstru/sivetness js a virtue, then ninety per cent, of New Zealaiuiers who supplied the large sums of money raised during the war must be virtuous. These large numbers of people are happily members of the British Empire, but not "Members of the British Empire." You will notice the capital distinction. Necessarily people of large importance who have been amongst iis during the whole period of the war take precedence over men who have not been in view, and who, in so many instances, 'will never bo in view on earth again.

Probably because we are ignorant of Imperial usages in these matters, it has always seemed curious that the stay-at-home should absorb so much of th<> Imperial spotlight. The important matter of the disposition of "0.8.E.'5" having, been got through, ''His Excellency also distributed M.C.'s to officers, or if they were dead to their representatives." The system is possibly quite correct according to convention. It is apparently—for advertising purposes— much more noble to have given your money than to have given your life.

Iα a number of cases where a distinction more important than any more military decoration has been given, the recipient, not only did not embarrass himself financially by his gifts during the war but enhanced his fortune greatly because of it. While workingmen have become colonels and even brigadier-generals in the British Army during the war, the decoration which takes precedence over fighting decorations could not possibly be given to a deck-hand or a wharf labourer, or a miner— types of men who have distinguished themselves by reaching positions of great eminence as officers.

A blacksmith might be a major, D.5.0., but if he remained a blacksmith and simply put in all his spare time during the war on home war work— he couldn't possibly be an ''0.8. E." Also if he, haying been an Army officer, paraded to have his D. S. 6. pinned to him, he would have to wait until the 0.8.E.'s were finished with, and you would find mention of him at the end of the report in the democratic dailies. • * * Probably the system is all right, and the idea of making small potatoes of the distinguished soldier is "according to Cocker." No distinguished soldier growls. Tottering old ladies, whose sons are dead on ths field of honour have stood in

line for a long time waiting for the decorations of their dead soldiers, until the gentlemen who organised bag-sewing, or who gave a small cut out of his large profits, or who whizzed around in a motor-car and made speeches and spurred charity, has been carefully scon to.

The etiquette may be perfect— there is no authority in this office on the subject. May one hope that tho press will not be. forced in the future to give precedence to 0.8. E. "winners" and that the last crate of these dec-orations has readied New Zealand? One does not know whether the factory for the wholesale manufacture of this class of ornament has been closed down yet, but it would seem that New Zealand has nearly enough. One does not depreciate the work of any man, woman, or child, who, because he or she was a British subject, helped the Allies to "win the war," but one is unable yet to believe that His Majesty the King intended citizens who- stayed-at-home to be treated with greater honour than soldiers who died on the field of battle, or those who survived to receive decorations nobly won.