Rallying Cry To Scots In N.Z.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31830, 7 November 1968, Page 22

Rallying Cry To Scots In N.Z.

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent)

LONDON, November 6,

A rallying cry to Scots in New Zealand was given by Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, yesterday. She wants their support in a bid to stop the disbandment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, a noted Scottish regiment.

“We had an extraordinary response to our request for support from Scots in Australia,” the Duchess said. “We were swamped by more than 10,000 replies to our re-, quest for signatories to our petition.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of Scots in New Zealand who'll support us.” The Duchess is heading a “Save the Argylls” campaign and is collecting signatures for a petition which it is proposed to present to the British Parliament within a month. Cuts In Forces The regiment is one of a number to be disbanded in Britain after the Government’s decision to reduce the size of the British forces. The Duchess said the petition “showeth that the Scottish regiments and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in particular, have an out-

standing record in recruiting and military skill and have rendered notable service to this nation over many generations . . . and that none of these regiments should be disbanded . . . when the country is in urgent need of new recruits.” She said New Zealand Scots wanting to add their names should write to her by “airmail,” asking for an official petition form, at 48 Upper Grosvenor Street, London, W.l.

“We’ve already got more than 900,000 signatories and I think the Scots in New Zealand ought to be able to help us reach the million mark," die said. “I've got plenty of car stickers too that they can have , . . I’ll send them over airmail . . . they’ve gone down well here and in Australia.

“We’ve been going since July and there’s not too much time to go.”