COLLEGE OLD BOYS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2474, 29 May 1915, Page 3

COLLEGE OLD BOYS

VOLUNTEER PROPOSAL.

A meeting of Wellington College Old Boys was held last night in Bethiuio's Building's. Mr. M'Burnett presided over a small attendance. The chairman explained that the meeting was the result of a discussion they had had in the committee of the Old Boys' Association with regard to forming an Old Boys' Volunteer Company to provide military activity for the Old Boys who had gone through their Territorial course, and now thero being no new volunteer companies forming, they were somewhat at a loose end. It was the unanimous desire of the committee that Mr. J. P. Firth should bo present, and they thanked him for bis attendance, for ho could direct thein if they decided to go forward. The idea was to have a company composed purely of Old Boys so trained that they would be available at a moment's notice to go anywhere on active service. Mr. Firth asked whether the proposed corps was to be a permanent corps or only during the currency of the war? 'l'ho chairman said tho idea was for a permanent corps. Mr. Firth said in that case he was in favour of the idea. He thought that at present those who enrolled in tho National Reserve, should he over the ago of activo service. He felt strongly that anyone who could enlist should do so, and by forming such «• corps they might bo keeping seme young men here. He did not think anything mattered so much now as getting the young men to enlist. It might be that they would bo all called; ho would be ready to go tomorrow if -wanted. Everything should give at present to the immediate necessity. Any of thoir young Old Boys should register themselves with tho authorities. Before they should attempt to form such a corps they should be sure .they had tho numbers available. ■ The chairman said they were all much obliged to Mr. Firth for his advice; there could be no question, of the soundness of it. Tho ending of tho war was of paramount importance, and* all their energies should bo lent to that end. For tho credit of the Old Boys it could be said that a good proportion had already taken the field, but there we™ others eligible who should go. If they formed such a corps as proposed it micrlii bo said at once why did tliey not go to tho front? committee realised that there was that difficulty in tho way. They might now connne themselves to making an Old Boys section of tho National Reserve ' Mr Firth further explained that toe minimum age for joining the National Reserve was supposed to be 40 years. Thero were a great many members under that age. The idea, of the national Reserve was to enlist thoso too old to join the Forces. Mr. W. E. Bethune said that he was entirely in agreement with Mr, Firth's remarks. He suggested that they should adjourn the meeting till Wednesday, Juno 9, to endeavour to get a reprpeontativo meeting. This course -was adoptod