FOR OLDER SOLDIERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1786, 26 June 1913, Page 4

FOR OLDER SOLDIERS.

[THE NEW RESERVE. EMERGENCY WAR-TIME FORCE. «* • (By Telegraph.—Prow Association.) Auckland, .Tuno 25. Tho organisation of the National Service League in tho Auckland Military District has been entrusted by General Godley to Colonel Allan lieil, who served in the Matabele and Boer wars, and was lately in command of the Waikato Mounted Regiment. Colonel Bell will shortly .set up a committee of military officers to .formulate plans governing tho organisation. Tho object of tho movement is to enrol men who have served in any military or naval forces of tho Crown who, being over the ago for training in tho aro under no obligation for further service, but aro trilling to come forward for service in tho event of national emergency. Those- qualified to join tho National Hoservo aro: Royal Navy and Volunteer Reserve and kindred colonial forces, Naval ratings and Marine ranks,' Naval and Marino pensioners, over fifty years. Royal Naval Reservo pensioners'enrolled prior to I'JOG at sixty years, lioyal Fleet Reserve, Royal Naval Reserve, and kindred colonial forces, ex : soldiers, and .Special Reserve, ex-Militiamen, ex-Yco-manry, ex-Volunteers, and ex-membera •of colonial forces, ex-Territorials and Territorial Force Reserve, In tho case of Homo Territorials, eight years with tho Colours or with tho Colours anil i Territorial Force Reserve. In tho case of New Zealand, tlioso who have finished their time in the Territorial Force, individuals who have teen duly granted a war. medal, ex-members of ' Constabulary, members of the League of Frontiersmen, honorary members of rifle clul)3, honorary Territorials, and otliei persons approved by'tho committee.

Tlie duties of tlio National Heserfe will be, in a national emergency, to-'.form a combatant unit for service in the-field, to carry out combatant <luty in garrison or other fixed positions, or perforin ad-, ministrativo work. Enrolment will be purely voluntary. Local military authorities will do all in their power to give tlio National Heserve a privileged position 011 national ceremonial occasions and local military functions, and it is hoped tlmt similar privileges will ho accorded them by the country and municipal authorities at public functions under the? control. ■- v COLONEL HEARD SEEN. MEANING- OP THE MOVEMENT. tßr Toloeraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, June 25. Colonel Hoard, who is acting as Commandant of the New Zealand Forces during tlio absence in England of General Godlcy, was seen by n reporter this morning concerning the National Reserve scheme. Colonel Heard stated that it wag hoped that it would bo taken up with enthusiasm in New Zealand on similar .lines to those prevailing in the Old. Country. Tlio system will he purely . voluntary, he explained. Men joining tlio reserve will bo registered, and, should occasion over ariso wjien their services aro required in the defence of tlio country, they will bo called upon. Questioned regarding the likely cost of the scheme, Cornel Iteard said that it was intended to organise a reserve force entirely on volunteer lines, and there would bo no heavy financial expenditure entailed. The Department already/ had, quite enough to do financially-in maintaining the Territorial Army. Every Territorial was being provided with one of tlio new pattern of .short rifles. Senior Cadets were being armed, and likewise those who were compulsory members of rifle clubs, while others were allowed to purchase rifles at cost .price. The Department, therefore, had its hands quite full in this respect at the present time, and the arming and proper equipment of reserves would only bo undertaken should the necessity foi actiVo 'service arise.