§ MR. KINNAIRDsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether any decision has been arrived at as to granting a Frontier Service Medal to the Punjab Irregular Forces and Regular Troops, European and Native, engaged in important expeditions for the defence of the North West Frontier against the Hill tribes of Afghanistan since the annexation of the Punjab to British India in 1849?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEreplied that the matter was not one in 1823 which the Secretary of State could take the initiative. He apprehended that any steps which might be taken in the matter must be taken by the Government of India. He had no reason for stating that a proposition on the subject would be made; but he thought it not improbable that there would be, and as he was disposed to give every encouragement to the system of granting Service Medals whenever it could properly he done, if any proposition of the kind should come before him in this case he would give it his favourable consideration.
COLONEL SYKESsaid, he would beg to ask, Whether, considering that a Medal had been granted to the Troops serving in the New Zealand campaign, in 1863, it was intended to grant one to the Troops who served in the campaign of Umballah, where the loss in three months was greater than that which had occurred in three years in New Zealand?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, in reply, that he must repeat that he could not officially take the initiative, but he would communicate privately with the Governor General on the subject.