A DEFINITE WARNING.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 26 August 1916, Page 4

A DEFINITE WARNING.

TO ARM BADGE WEARERS, WAR REGULATIONS 'ACT PROVISIONS. PUT RESOLUTE 1A" IN FORCE

The following communication has been received from the Chairman of the Recruiting Board for publication: "As previously indicated, it has now been decided to make new regulations under the War Regulations Act, 1914, with respect to the issue and wearing of arm badges. This decision is largely the outcome of representations that have been made by returned discharged soldiers themselves, who have complained of unauthorised personswearing badges which, though not offi- | Cial, are indicative to the public mind lof honourable service. Discharge badges of various sorts have been adopt- [ ed and worn on the arm in place of the ■ distinctive official khaki and red badges by the men entitled to wear them,, and it is this practice which has en- } abled the abuse to creep in. There is only one effective method of preventj ing the improper use of war and that is by absolutely any person, whether a volunteer who is waiting to be called up, or has not been accepted for service, or a returned discharged soldier from wearing on the arm any badge other than the official badge issued by the Defence Authorities as a token of willingness to serve or of honourable service in the great war. This is to be done by the amended war regulations and the new rule is to take effect from IvEonday, the 4th September. Thereafter, until the end of the war, it will be an offence for any man to wear any badge other than the approved badge or a badge indicative of military, naval; or official rank, or a badge indicative of mourning. . The principal provisions of the proposed regulations will be found in paragraphs S and 9; which will read: 'No man, whether a badge

has been so duly issued to him or not, shall wear upon his arm any badge of any description whatever., other than (a) An approved badge lawfully issued to him under these , regulations, or under the war regulations of -these regulations of the 29th .day. of .MaYch; 1916; relative to the officers : and: crews of transports; .or (b) A badge indicative of military, naval,'Or military or official rank; (c) A badge indicative of mourning. i ■ •.'■■',' V No man to whom an- approved badge has been issued under these regulations shall wear that badge, whether on his arm or otherwise; in any mutilat-i ed or substantially altered order to guard against unauthorised persons wearing an approved arm , badge, it is proposed to make full use of the power conferred by .the .regulations to challenge any man wearing, an arm badge to produce his card of authority to wear it. This card ,is to be produced at the request of any military officer, constable or non-com. officer of an Expeditionary Force of the permanent staff. All men therefore to whom official badges have been duly issued are warned that they must, on and after Monday; the 4th . September; wear only the official arm badge, and not any mutilated or altered form of it; and that all all times while wearing this official badge they must have the card of authority to

wear in their personal possession. In order to meet an objection that has been raised to the appearance o£ the arm badge after it has been worn for some time, it has been decided to fix a period as the fair wearable life o£ a badge, and to renew the issue at the expiration of that period, such renewal will be made free of cost, but will be subject to the return of tlra worn-out badge. The new regulations will not in any way interfere with the wearing on the coat lapel of the silver device which has been adopted by the J Returned Soldiers' Associaton, or of' any other badge or token. The prohibition applies to the wearing on the arm of a badge of any description other than the official badge. (Signed) W. F. MASSET, Chairman.