THREE CLASSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 148, 26 June 1939, Page 8

THREE CLASSES.

TRAINING SCHEME

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT. DOMINION ORGANISATION. DUTIES A1VI) OFFICERS. my TolrorniTih Own f,.rr'x|.n,Hl"Mf ) W'KI.I.IVCi lu\. H,i. d.iv, "The -v.-I.M.i ~f w.lonian ~,,||,| „f in tin' Ten it..rial I-.,,.-,, m -i,., li,r:." C.ihl Hie Minister ..I' Defence, the Hon I'', .fi'lte-. In day. •• \| || u , ~n , | ~,- \|,, v (he utieiia-lh WHS 111.1,00, when (lie olVieinl i<«liili|i4|nnrnl win ~nl\ !>.".f»n Sine,, then Hie l*i iin.- Minister* appeal for I'iii-llk'i recruits, '~, which lie finnouricH I'nil. the Territorial r'orcc establishment «•«« being raised 1,, l'!.IHl(\ ll,e atrenglh has iilren.lv jumped to IJ.iMHt in a few ilayi. nllhonirh the nfflcinl recruiting cuinpaijiii in heing launched Ihi* week.

"The Chief of Ihe (iem-ral Stair, in his recent statement, pointed out the necessity for cure fill organisation in the i country mens before the regiments could actually tnkc in the extra men required. This organisation is now complete and we are ready to go ahead, although From t lie above figure* it. is obvious that recruiting is going well, and 1 am rnnndeiit that the country battalions and mounted rifle regiments will rem h their full quota of the new establishment within three months. "The Prime Minister lins pointed nut that the response to his appeal for men to enrol In tho National Military Reserve has been steady, but I feci sure that here iignin the rate of enrolment will arcelenile us soon as everyone known what they are expected to do. I am therefore pleased to announce now tho details of organisation nnd the arrangements made for training the reserve. To Reinforce Territorial Units. Class 1 of tlio reserve is restricted to men between the ages of 20 and .'J.'» who have had at least two years' service in tho Territorial Force or in any other military force of t ho Empire. They are wanted as immediate reinforcements for territorial unitH to bring them up to war establishment in an emergency. It is therefore essential that reserve'units of Class 1 should be closely associated and trained In conjunction with regiments, etc., to which they form .the actual reserve. The organisation will therefore be that eneh mounted rifle regiment will have reservo squadrons. Each artillery field brigade or other artillery formation will have reserve lotteries. FiVory Infantry regiment will have a number of reserve companies and engineer*. Army service corps and medical units will form corresponding reserve sections.

"In every case preference will be given to selected ex-menibers of tho regiment, battery, Hold company, etc., concerned. For instance, tho Waikoto Mounted Rifles will have reserve squadrons formed mainly from ex-Waikato territorials. Similarly, tho 2nd Field Brigade in the Central Military District will form reservo battories of ex-members of the sth, 6th, 7th and Bth Field Butteries, and so on throughout New Zealand.

"These reservists of Class 1 will lie trained and administered by reserve officers of tho units with which they are associated. Thoy will not ho issued with uniform*, but will be provided witli an official distinctive armlet, carrying tho regimental badge of tho regiment or corps to which they belong. This may bo worn going to and from parades, during training and when they turn out In public with their own regiment.

30 Hours' Training a Year. "Training for Class 1 will consist of 3(1 hours per annum, carried out as evening parades or half-day or whole day parades at the discretion of the unit. It will lain the nature of a refresher course dealing with the particular training the reservist* previously carried out in their unit. It will also include a certain amount of weapon training and shooting on tho range with rifle, machine-guns, etc.

"Class 2 of tho Reserve consists of men botween the ages of 35 and 55 years who aro ox-regular soldiers and returned soldiers. These men will be organised Into national defence reserve companies in tho various areas where they are required as a second line of defence to tho Territorial Force. They will he employed on mobilisation on protective duties at various Important points, particularly In tho vicinity of our ports, where a proportion of them will be trained for anti-aircraft defence against low-flying aircraft.

"Class H. reservists will not be issued with uniforms in peace time, but as with Class 1. will be given a suitable armlet with a distinctive badge, which thev may wear going to and from parades, during training aud when they turn out in public.

Ex-Service Officers. "Training for Clas* 11. will consist, of four inirnter parades a year, a special weapon training course and any number of additional voluntary parades at the discretion of the unit. Officers for these companies will !>« found mainly from ex-nervlco officers on the retired list of the New Zealand or other Umpire forces. For instance, ex-A.I.F. officers who aro able and willing to help would bu welcomed where they can bo absorbed in the reservo organisation.

"National defence companies are required In the following localities: — Bay of Islands, Whnrngarei. Auckland, Thames, Tauranga, Hamilton, New Plymouth, llawera, Wanganui, (ilsborne, Napier, Pa|moixton North. Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Kaikoura, Christchurch. West port, Urevnuuit h, Hokltika. limuru. Oamaru, lb din nnd luvercarg'll. Returned soldiers in t.i.-i.e areas are asked to Join up iiinne li m-l v if thev have, not already done so. „,, |h,il L.i organisation of iheir loca, couip.iuy or companies can bo proceed. 1 u,; .', ~; once. ,\w the units ore formed tu.. necessary training uquipinent will be made available.

"Cluss 111. of the National Military Reserve consists of men between the ages of 30 and 8o years who have had no previous military service, from this ibis* special unils, particularly enjjriiu— r iinl other technical units, will be ulri itely formed. Tho Public Works

Department will he invaluable in assisting uith the orpanifiatioii of specialist

companies

No Training Yet

"It ir- not intended to jrive men of ( 1 j»:—. 111. iiny training ut Hit' moment, lull at a later stage, when Classes I. iind 11. an- established, working unit* will In- organised from those with special ipialilicatinns, who have handed in their curds. Jt will then also he possible to exteml the. training facili tic* to ( linn 111.

•f wish to emphasise that men who have offered their service* in the National .Military Reserve arc under no obligation to train in peace unlets they vvi-ii to do so. .Moreover, although they have offered their services for home defence, and home defence only, they cannot lie-called up his a matter of compulsion. They have offered their -ervi.e- as soldiers ami if they join a company or other unit they will nut in any be expected to nerve for at least two year* to do their bit in the activities of that unit and also to aasi.-i in tile recruiting and other activities Oi tin- Territorial unit in their aria,' liio .Minister concluded.