ARMLETS OR BADGES?

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2855, 21 August 1916, Page 6

ARMLETS OR BADGES?

THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION. For a long time the question of what badges should be permitted in addition to those authorised by the Government has been a vexed one. It is understood, however, that tho Government has como to a decision on the subject, and that a regulation' will shortly bo made declaring it illegal for any man to wear any badge on his arm except the two authorised armlets— the red for returned soldiers, and tho khaki for men who havo offered their services, whether they havo been accepted or not. Returned soldiers now wear a silver device on their coat lapel, or if in uniform on their right breast. This is the badgo of their association, and bo far as is known the Government do not propose to prohibit the wearing of this or any other badge except such badges as are worn on tho arm. This decision is ono of some moment, because very soon, when the compulsory service law is in operation, it will bo of the utmost importanco that men shall not he able to avoid their obligations by wearing an unauthorised badge. Tho law about these unauthorised badges has been often explained. They aro not accepted by tho authorities as proper substitutes for the armlet's, but they aro so accepted by tho public. A man who without right wears an armlet is liable to a penalty, but a man may wear ono of tho other arm badges without penalty. If, however, a man wearing one of these unauthorised badges pretended to be a returned soldier .or an enlisted man for purposes of material gain, ho would bo lia.blo under tho civil law, and the police would probably call the_ charge "false pretences." This unsatisfactory state of affairs is to exist no 'longer. The authorised armlots will bo tho only arm badges permitted, and tho man who wears cither of tho armlets without authority, and the man who wears any other arm badgo whatsoever, will be liable tea penalty.