A WAR EPISODE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1924, Page 1

A WAR EPISODE.

TIN-RANKlill’S STKADY RISK

TO l-'AMI'

The remarkable case of SergeantGeneral KiehnnKoii. formerly ollicer in charge of administration to the New Zealand Defence Forces, is causing a good deal of comment in Knglnnd. The story is one of the strangest yet told, and shows how even in the army “you can't keep a pond man down.”

Thu story, being told in London, is uf a Major-General, now an administrator of one of the island possessions i f Great Pritaiu. who was formerly a quarter-master .sergeant in the ltoyal Artillery, was recently asked to sign the certificates fur the pension of 30s 2d a week, to which, as a ranker officer. lie i> entitle I.

The whole ipiesliou of the claims of Army iien-ioncl ranker officers has been brought to The front, again hy the submission to the Ilritisii Prime Minister of the report of the ex-l’anker Officers' Committee, which may lie in the hands of members of Parliament early this week.

The ollicer ill ipiesliou. at cording tu Captain F. D. limn*. secretary to the ex-Rauker OiTiccrs' Association, is Ma-jor-General George Spafford Richardson. who i- now Administrator of Western Samoa, the former German colony. His career is a Veritable romance. MANY DECORATIONS. Twenty .veal's ago General Richardson. then a young sergeant, was lent hy the War Office to the New Zealand Government ns an instructor in gunnery. and ;i( the end of twenty-one .veins' service the Chelsea Commissions tlischargeil mm tu pension. The New Zealand War Office, however, continued his employment, and gave him a commission in the Dominion Militia. Ilis war services were twice brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War; he was several times mentioned in despatches, and received numerous decorations. THE SAMK MAN.

In December, I!, t lie iiriti-h military authorities decided that, in conformity with Army regulations. General Richardson's pcii'iou as a ipiartcr-ma-ter-.-ergoaiit might he rens-cs-ed. and instructions were given that this should lie raised I rum I!*' .Td to 30s 2d a week. The necessary documents were accordingly forwarded to New Zealand with the rcipicst that lhi* General in charge of the Administration would sign the eeniiicates allcctiup the pensioner. These were, however, returned uncompleted, tin* General picfcrrinp a request that another qitalilicd ollicer should certify to the facts, as lie, the General, happened to lie the pensioner concerned.