DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1931, Page 3

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

s AIK GIRLING BUTCHER. R AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE, ‘(By Tcleyraph—Per Press Association; NAPIER-, June 8. ‘‘This is the first time for many years that the Government has made no recommendation for granting King’s Birthday honours. 1 see that some newspapers have commented on this omission,” remarked Air W E. Barnard AI.P. for Napier, when speaking in Hastings on Saturday night. “At the same time,” he continued, “one person who has been in New Zealand has received an honour, I refer to Commander Morgan, of H.M.S. Veronica, who lias received the Order of C.M.G. I do not wish to criticise the Government, but frankly 1 feel that there were at least a few other people whose services might have been recognised. There were hundreds of thousands who did valiant service, but they would never he recognised. Those of .you who served in the Great War know that. You know that the M.C. was not really hard to win. In fact, 1 was a member of a battery' which bad to decide who was to receive the solitary MC. allotted to the battery. “There i-s one man, however,” said Mr Barnard, “who might very well have been selected to receive some honour this time. I refer to Air R. Girling Butcher. 1 was closely associated with him, and I say that no man did more to restore Napier to a workable basis in its chaotic time than Air Butcher. There were local people whose services might he recognised. , but on that I have no desire to say anything, but I do say that Air Girling ( Butcher’s services might well have ( been recognised.”