WAR TROPHIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 249, 15 July 1919, Page 4

WAR TROPHIES

QUESTION OF DISTRIBUTION,

A number of tho New Zealand war trophies have been coming (o hand dur'rl lral "' ' lave ' ieen allotted to districts; )>ut the greater portion, comprising a large quantity of Material which tlie military authorities lmve collectedi has been stored in London and Egypt. It comprises: (1) Actual captures; (2) articles salvaged by the N.Z.E.I'', in franco ■jnd lalestine and Egypt; (3) interesting .] rar ,! lul £ n . a ! obtained from, or allotted .by, the British authorities for Dominion War Museum puj'poses. Tliese trophioS are now arriving by tho returning transports, and naturally tho public are taking keen interest in iheir disposal. Each district wilL have its duo share, but at present the Railway authorities cannot distribute them over Iho ''ountry. Tho Defence authorities, therefore, are taking charge of them, storing them at Trent* ham, and keeping an inveutory of each article.

In oases where tirophies are the identified captures of units and branded as such, care -will be taken (hat they go ■to the districts of the units capturing them. The New Zealand AVar Records Office, London, has a complete list of all trophies, with ail historical uote of each where available, and each lias been branded with a distinguishing numbor> In this way every, care has been taken to safeguard tho units' claims to particular captures. The matter of allocation will be dealt w.itli as speedily as possible; .but final action cannot be taken until all the material conies to hand from London. Lhere should be enough trophies, particularly field guns and machine guns,, to satisfy all reasonable demands. .. I! I .'* Mnve reached the authorities for pins.for peace celebrations. Unfortunately the railway situation pfechules the oossi'biUiv of <he dispatch of any trophies by rail at present, but local. bodies desiring, loan of trophies peace celebrations .nre being -given this concession on condition that they make all arrangement? for shipping same and return them to Wellington immedi. ciM.v afterwards. AVliere carriage can be effected by sea, endeavour is" being made to forward immediately for this pnrposq guns that are branded is (he special captures of districts so situated.