TRIAL WEEK-END IN ARMY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29010, 26 September 1959, Page 15

TRIAL WEEK-END IN ARMY

150 Civilians Accept Invitation Civilian applications for a week-end of Army jungle-train-ing experience are “ticking on 150” according to the officer commanding the Canterbury Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel S. M. Pritchard). “We are not closing the door and we will handle all comers,” he said yesterday when he commented on the response to his unit’s invitation published in “The Press” last week. The invitation was to youths to join, without obligation, members of the territorial force who would be exercising in bush country near Oxford on the week-end of October 3-5. Colonel Pritchard said that applications to participate in the exercise were still coming forward to the regimental headquarters in King Edward Barracks and that if the rate was maintained "close on 200.’ ’ guests would be taken to Oxford. The strength of the battalion is almost 200 at the present time. Authorised establishment is about 800 men. "When applications to go bush with us come in these numbers and rival our existing strength, it certainly justifies my view that New Zealand youths have lost none of their appreciation or spirit of adventure,” Colonel Pritchard said. The regiment emphasises that although guests will be invited to apply to join the territorial force after their trial week-end, no pressure will be put on them and they will be under no obligation to do so if they do not wish to.