CIVIC CHARTER

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 272, 13 August 1938, Page 10

CIVIC CHARTER

Privileges Of Wellington

Regiment

In addition to (he right to be known as “The City of Wellington’s Own,” the Wellington Regiment has several other privileges bestowed upon it by the granting of the civic charter which was announced by the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, at this week’s meeting of the Wellington City Council. The regiment is granted the privilege, without further permission having to be obtained, “of marching, at all times when such processions are approved, with swords drawn, colours flying, and bayonets fixed, through that part of the city containing the Town Hall, and bounded by Mercer Street, Cuba Street, Manners Street, and Parish Street, and including those streets between their respective junctions.” This privilege can be granted to other armed parties on special occasions only on the written authority of the mayor. In return the city council accepts the honour of viewing the regiment on parade, for the purpose of inspection by the mayor, once a year. In addition the mayor may have two officers of the regiment in attendance on all important occasions. The granting of the civic charter to the Wellington Regiment, establishes a precedent in New Zealand, and it is possible that the regiment will remain the only one in the Dominion thus privileged. With the exception of the Auckland Regiment all the regiments in the Dominion have provincial designations, and so are not likely to be granted civic charters. The Auckland Regiment, the only one besides the Wellington Regiment with a city designation, already incorporates the words “Countess of Ranfurly’s Own” in its title. The granting of the honour to a military unit is not unusual and regiments in many parts of the Empire hold civic charters. Probably the most notable territorial regiment holding a civic charter is the Honourable Artillery Company, London.