MAORI WAR VETERANS

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14494, 18 October 1920, Page 7

MAORI WAR VETERANS

REQUEST FOR WAR MEDAL& FOR THOSE NOT UNDER FIRE. COMMITTEE REPOERT FAVOURABLE By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON. Saturday. The old question of the issue of the Maori War .Medal, with its accompanying pension, was before the House of Representatives again yesterday. The Defence Committee lias considered n petition praying lh.it the medal should be granted to men who had served in the Maori Wars, but had not actually been under llr<\ and reported recommending the petition for the favourable consideration of the Government. .Many members of the House took the opportunity to urge again that some concessions should be made to tfioso veterans who were unable In prove that they had been under (Ire, though they had worn (lie uniform anl performed all the services required of them in troublous years.

One suggestion made during the dehate was llial all the veterans should be given a ribbon, which they could wear on official occasions. Veterans of Other Wars.

The Minister for Defence (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) staled that he had been asked recently to approve of the issue .if the badge to veterans of the Manri War, [.lie South African War, and other wars in which New Zealanders had he >n engaged; but an objection had been raise,) by. lii,- Returned Soldiers' Association, which sjlated that any veteran was entitled to enter that organisation and wear ils badge.

Several members pointed out that t.iie veterans of the Maori War were not technically "returned soldiers." Since they had not fought overseas they could not join the Returned Soldiers' Association.

'file Minister: I should like to see cne veterans' association and one badge for all returned soldiers. Mr Massey's Views.

The Prime Minister, speaking after the claims of the old soldiers bad been pressed by other members, said thai, on at least four occasions within his recollection, commissions had been appointed to visit various parts of New Zealand ami make an effort to clear up all the claims for tin- Maori War Medal. All the men win. had servvl in that war and had been under fire had been invited to presenl their claims, hut it appeared that some claims ha i not been presented, while other claims had nol 1 n proved, and then the:- 1 was the demand that the t lal shout J 'ln: granted to men who had not been under lire at all. The holders of the medal were r dving now a pension at the rale of £49 a v ,. ur each, and Mr .Massey added thai he was quite willing to recommend the Government to have the whole question looked into again, and to have something done if possible towards satisfying the claims of Fie .veterans. This would apply to hundreds of Maoris as well as to pakeh.i soldiers. He wished to know how many of the veterans there wore, and if the difficulties in the way of meeting their claims were insuperable.