UNOFFICIAL TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 3

UNOFFICIAL TRAINING

Class Three Of Military Reserve CHRISTCHURCH PROPOSAL Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, June 18. That hundreds of men in Christchurch in Class HI of the National Military Reserve were anxious to serve in the military forces was emphasized by speakers at the meeting of the Territorial Association of Canterbury last night. The association appointed a subcommittee to draw up a scheme by which these men can receive training without making any claim on the time of the New Zealand Permanent Staff. Colonel H. C. Hurst's offer of 1000 men of Class TH for service overseas bad been submitted to the Officer Commanding the Southern Military District, but he bad explained that the Defence Department had not the staff neeessarv to organize and train such a force, said Mr. R. 11. Livingstone. Colonel Hurst, the chairman, said he could sec no hand in the men going on with training, even if they could not at present be recognized officially. Enlarging Activities. “There must be at least 1000 fit Class HI men in this town. Is anyone taking an interest in them?" asked Mr. W. R. Lascelles, who suggested the association should enlarge its activities and take these men under its wing. “To think that after nine months of war nothing more has been done with these men than to have their names taken is most unsatisfactory.’’ Colonel W. W. McKinney said the men were ready to drill at once, but there was no room for them. Mr. Lascelles argued that these men were among the fittest and they were being placed in an invidious position. If officers could b.e obtained from the reserve of officers, a very useful battalion could soon be trained. “We do not want to.prepare only for probabilities; we must be ready for every eventuality, or we shall be six months too late again,’’ he declared. Colonel Hurst said the men of Class II would be easily trained, and there would be plenty of volunteers from this class willing to give one or two or even three or four nights a week and weekends in assisting in the training of Class HL