Feb. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 451

COLONIAL AUXILIARY FORCES OFFICERS’ DECORATION.

Certificate C.

For Retired Officers.

I HEREBY certify that __ has completed the qualifying period of twenty years’ service in active employment in the New Zealand Defence Forces, and that he is to the best of my belief in every way deserving of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration.

Signed: __, Officer Commanding District.

Date: __

Recommended: __, Commandant, New Zealand Forces.

Headquarters, Wellington, New Zealand [Date].

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long-service Medal.

472. The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long-service Medal is issued in accordance with the Royal Warrant of 18th May, 1899, subject to the following conditions:—

(i.) Members of the auxiliary forces of all ranks may be granted such medal after twenty years’ service (which need not be continuous) in such forces. Service rendered partly in the auxiliary forces of one colony or protectorate and partly in the auxiliary forces of another colony or protectorate, or partly in the auxiliary forces of one or more colonies or protectorates, or Indian Volunteers, and partly in the Volunteer Force of Great Britain, shall be reckoned as qualifying service for the medal; service on the west coast of Africa counting double. The medal may also be granted to Volunteers who have retired after completing twenty years’ service, and officers who have served in the ranks but have not qualified for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration.

(ii.) Service on the Permanent Staff or service in Defence Rifle Clubs shall not reckon as qualifying service for the medal.

(iii.) Applications for the medal shall be made through the O.C. the District, who shall forward same, stating why, in his opinion, the applicant is entitled to receive the medal. The applicant’s record of service shall then be furnished and verified on Form D by the Under-Secretary for Defence, after which the application shall be recommended by the O.C. the District and Commandant New Zealand Forces, also on Form D, and forwarded through the usual channel of correspondence to the Governor, whose decision upon the validity or otherwise of any claim to the medal shall be final. Retired members shall, in the first instance, apply through the officer commanding the unit in which they last served.

(iv.) Applicants who have performed part of the necessary qualifying service in other portions of the Empire than New Zealand must produce particulars of their previous service, certified to by competent authority, and forward such with their application.

(v.) Names of recipients shall be published in the Government Gazette, after the publication of which the original applications (Form D) shall be returned to the headquarters for record and retention. Arrangements for the distribution of the medals shall be made by the O.C. the District, or as the Governor shall decide, at the earliest time that a good muster of the corps can be reckoned upon.

(vi.) Any officer who is subsequently awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration shall not be required to surrender the medal, but he shall not be permitted to wear both.

(vii.) When the conduct of any member of the auxiliary Forces after he has been awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long-service medal has been such as to disqualify him from wearing it, he may be deprived of it by the Governor.

(viii.) A medal forfeited by a member of the auxiliary Forces under paragraph (vii.) may be restored to him by the Governor.

(ix.) When a long-service medal has been lost and it is desired to replace it, a declaration must be made before a Magistrate or a Justice of the Peace stating the circumstances under which the loss occurred, and the rank, name, and company and unit of the individual to whom the medal belonged. The declaration shall be forwarded to the Commandant, who shall forward same to the Minister for transmission to the Governor. The medal shall be replaced on payment if the explanation as to its loss is considered satisfactory.

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