OFFER OF SERVICE LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN A REGIMENT OF 500. '

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 77, 29 September 1915, Page 2

OFFER OF SERVICE LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN A REGIMENT OF 500. '

An offer to raise a regiment of 500 mounted men for service with the New Zealand Forces has been made to the Government by the Legion of Frontiersmen. The offer was made in the House ' of Representatives by Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato). Mr. Young said that the Legion offered to raise 500 men and^- would find the ' reinforcements according to scale. It : was probable the number may be raised to 1000. The men would provide their own uniforms, which would be the uniforms of the Frontiersmen as passed and approved by the British War Office. The Legion would provide the officers, subject to them giving satisfaction to the military authorities after a probationary training period. The Legion would find its own instructors, who would be well-qualified men. It was also hoped that the necessary number of' horses would be provided. Mr. Young said that the first offers of the Legion at the outbreak of war were refused. They had then offered to fill a transport with. 1000 mounted men, and to man the transport from , master down to greasers, all from their ', own ranks. This offer had been de- v clined, and the men had volunteered as ordinary recruits. Already 1200 Legionaries had gone from New Zea-' land, and the present offer was for 500 additional. They would all -be picked men. Mr. Young said- that he had been asked by Mr. E. D'Esterre (Staff Officer for New Zealand) to make the offer. The Minister for Defence thanked the ■Legion for its offer, .and spoke of the good work it had done. They were a most desirable body of men. He could i not say at once whether the offer could • be accepted as it was made, with the condition as to the Legion's own uniform. The Minister added that that afternoon he had had an offer of a Scottish regiment, and probably other similar offers would be made. - He must . say he would prefer that the' individual men should register in the ordinary way, though he recognised the' value of the : Legionaries. He would consult with the military authorities and communicate plater with the hon. gentleman.)