§ MAJOR SEELY (Isle of Wight)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that large numbers of men in the Army or recently discharged have not yet received South African war medals to which they are entitled, he will say whether this delay is caused by undue centralisation at Woolwich; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of despatching the medals to officers commanding units, making them responsible for the engraving and distribution of the medals.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonAs I have already explained to the House, considerable time is required for checking the rolls which in many cases were not correct. Up to the 30th June 390,261 medals and 982,070 clasps had been issued. Commanding officers are now responsible for the distribution, but to make them responsible for the engraving would hardly appear expeditious. The greatest possible efforts have been made to expedite production both at the Mint and Woolwich.