CANTERBURY MOUNTED RIFLES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 14

CANTERBURY MOUNTED RIFLES

Blunders and Apathy of

Defence Policy

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[By "BBRVICE.-1

"Every member of the Government thoroughly appreciates the need for adequate Defence Forces in the Dominion and we are doinr everything that can reasonably be expected of us, Z Hon F. Jones, Minister for Defence, has stated. The statement, like others, fives little satisfaction and means httl.The Minister should know that Government policy has so reduced the .ranks of our military forces that the numbers who attended traininr camps this year were extraordinarily small and that present training conditions are wasteful and of little value.

The Government has the responsibility of providing national security and assisting in the maintenance of peace. Money for the purpose has been collected from the taxpayers, and an £BOOOOO surplus appears. An examination of the condition of the territorial force will prove

(1) that the number of efficient territorials is hopelessly inadequate; (2) that the existing defence scheme is badly constructed and has not the confidence of the troops;

As a typical example, we may examine the position of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, the premier mounted rifle regiment in the Dominion. The parade of the regiment for camp in May, 1878, at Ashburton, was greater than the muster at the Motukarara annual camp in April, 1938. Mounted rifle training has been knocked back 50 years.

The Latest Scheme

South Africa Anzac Sari Bair Gallipoli. 1915 Rumani Egypt 1915-17 Jerusalem ~ *.,_, Jordan (Annan) Megiddo Palestine 1917-18

Those were the names emblazoned upon the guidon presented to the regiment last year by Colonel the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. When the guidon was formally presented by his Excellency the Governor-General, men who had served in the regiment assembled at the ceremony and silently hoped that in the years to come the guidon, with its magnificent battle honours, would always inspire a well equipoed and strong representation of mounted troops from Canterbury. To-day, it seems that their hope was vain. They see this fine old regiment, whose history is closely ident'fied with the province, drifting ali.iost to extinction.

The numerical strength at annual camps in recent years makes melanrlio'y reading:

April, 1935. Mt. Somers .. 284 April, 1936. Mt. Somers '-.. 191 April, 1937. Addington .. 167 April, 1938, Motukarara .. 70 (Band not included.)

Yet as a recruiting ground lot mounted troop's Canterbury has no equal in the Dominion. Ideal conditions exist for the breeding of suitable remounts. The right feed is plentiful; large areas of tussocky sheep country make the use of light horses necessary In all our show rings the light horse events are the popular feature. As soldiers our men .have few equals. Good, sturdy physique and a high standard of education and intelligence make training easy for all concerned. The typical mounted rifleman in civil life is a gentleman of independent spirit. He readily submits to discipline, realising the absurdity of trying to make an army without it. Undoubtedly there are in Canterbury men and horses of the finest type, sufficient to provide a Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment; and in every district there are many who have rendered service with mounted troops in days gone by. Goodwill and help are always ready but are never sought. - What History Telia On November 1, 1864, the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry was first commissioned as a corps under Lieutenant-Colonel' H. E. Reader, of the 17th Lancers. Though the nineteenth to be formed, it Was the first cavalry unit to accept service under the 1865 Volunteer Act; and this gave the corps its premier place in the precedence list, ever since maintained. On April 11, 1885, under Major (later Colonel) H. Slater, V.D., the Canterbury Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Christchurch) were organised as a mounted rifle unit; and the unit was at that date the only mounted rifle unit in New Zealand. On August 5, 1898, under Captain John Boag, the Ellesmere Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Leeston) were established. On April 11, 1900, under Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) John Deans, the Malvern Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Waddington) were formed. On April 14, 1900, Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) W. N. C. Bond commanded the first parade of the Waimakariri Mounted Rifle Volunteers (West Melton). On August 15, 1907, Captain P. A. Keddell organised the Canterbury Scouts Volunteer Reserve. Other units, known as the 2nd Regiment, North Canterbury Mounted Rifle Volunteers, were formed as follows: on April 11, 1900, under Captain (later Colonel) R. A. Chaffey, the Amuri Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Waiau); on May 6, 1900, under Captain T. H. Lance, the Cust Mounted Volunteers (Cust); on May 8, 1900, under Captain D. Cosgrove, the North Canterbury Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Tuahiwi). In 1899 the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, Canterbury Mounted Rifles, and Ellesmere Mounted Rifles were formed into the Canterbury Mounted Rifle Battalion, the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles adding a company. In 1901 mounted rifle battalions became regiments; and all mounted rifle troops were formed into two regiments, known as the Ist and 2nd Regiments, North Canterbury Mounted Rifle Volunteers. Compulsory Training After the introduction of compulsory military training, mounted rifles in Canterbury were in 1911 formed into two regiments, the Ist Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) and the Bth (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles. Under this scheme Canterbury provided eight mounted squadrons with headquarters at Leeston, Yaldhurst, Sheffield, Waipara, Timaru, Ashburton, Waimate, and Geraldine. Each squadron provided some five officers and 125 ranks. Post war retrenchment brought about an amalgamation of

(3) that the cost of this year's annual campa waa out of all proportion to the value of the work done and greater, for each man, than ever in the past, tho.rh pay rates were not increased.

the two regiments under the tltlt Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry.

In August of last year the Government ordered a reorganisation. Three South Island mounted regiments were instructed to form « "composite" regiment, bury Yeomanry Cavalry to find two mounted squadrons. The # result we know: 70 mounted men of all rante from the whole of Canterbury, from Waitaki to Waiau.

Cost to the Community Training and administration ataff sufficient to deal with a full establishment are permanently employed; and their other duties are nominal. Clothing, arms, and equipment sufficient for a regiment are purchased and maintained. Transport and extra camp staff are heavy items of expenditure. Small numbers enormously increase the average cost The value received does not justify the expense.

Some Reasons for the Decline The formation of a composite organisation causes loss of identity and reduces the pride and interest which helps to maintain a local organisation. "Animate by espnt-de-corps, the body lives and each member is nerved to play his part Without it there is no life, no zeal, no energy, only the dull plodding Oi a machine." Lord Wolseley s words seem to apply. Those who have planned the changes have failed to estimate the value of local interest and tradition. A reduction of establishment has always been followed by a corresponding reduction of interest and support. Apart from camp training, little is done to maintain enthusiasm for regimental duty. Communications ! from regimental headquarters, are [few in number and meagre m m--1 formation. No effort is made to hold the interest and support, of those who have served. The most valuable goodwill and aids to recruiting are left ignored. Before 1908 all volunteer service was unpaid. From that year the rates were: Captains 15s, lieutenants lis, sergeants 6s, corporals ss, troopers 4s. This last sum was half the ruling rate of labourers wages in 1908. The Government must face the new conditions it has created. The day of free service seems to have gone. From the high taxation levied there are ample funds from which to pay men fairly for a 10day camp. Public works cost over £20,000 a day in wages alone, to 1913 the training of a territorial force of 30,000 men, besides cadets, i rifle clubs, and reserves, cost the Dominion less than £500,000 a year; and the people regarded the money as well spent. To-day the Government aims at training only 8000, but there is little response to the call. The reason is mainly economic The spirit of sacrifice and voluntary service is rapidly disappearing, and the Government has done much to send it off. . _.. Ministerial interest m jnartary affairs is negligible. Tha Minister for Defence "regrets that he is unable," etc., and has never paid a visit to Canterbury mounted troops. A Government policy that seeks an equitable distribution of the goods of the country should seek to divide equitably the responsibility for protecting those goods and the services from which they are derived. The Anzac Day parade this year was remarkable for two facts, m curious contrast: the small attendance of territorial troops, and the greater public interest in the parade and in the service organised by the Returned Soldiers' Association. Had the permanent troops of the Air Force and Special Reserve and the non-military bands been absent, the public would have been better able to estimate the small size of the territorial garrison troops and the desperate need for an effective defence policy. The remarkable interest of the public was a great tribute to those who have fought for our protection, and a silent gesture of support for those who offer to defend us in the future. In view of the stern demands of the international situation and the fine efforts of other parts of the Empire, there is a clear call for an effective defence policy; and the public should voice it.