§ MR. BUTCHER (York)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that under the existing regulations for the distribution of the Queen's South African medal and the King's South African medal, those officers and men who served during the earlier period of the war will receive but one medal, while those who served for the same time during the later period will receive two medals; whether the effect of these regulations will be to exclude the whole or the greater part of the Colonial troops from the possibility of receiving more than one medal: and, whether under these circumstances, he will reconsider the regulations as to the issue of these medals.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe regulations for the issue of these medals were only decided upon after very careful consideration of all the interests involved. My hon. friend must recollect that the Colonial troops are not alone in being affected in respect of the dates of service to which the issues apply, and the intention was that regular troops should receive special consideration as compared with those serving for shorter periods at a higher rate of pay. There is no intention of reconsidering the regulation.