NEW VOLUNTEER UNIT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1933, Page 13

NEW VOLUNTEER UNIT

FORMATION AT LOWER HUTT

CANVASS FOR RECRUITS

A meeting of citizens of Lower Hutt was held last night for the purpose oC considering tho 'formation, of a citizens' organisation for the furtherance of the interests in Lower Hutt of the Wellington Regiment generally and of the Lower Hutt detachment in particular. Thore was au attendance of about thirty citizens, and numerous apologies were received. . . In opening tho proceedings, tne Mayor (Mr. J. W. Andrews) referred to tho'suspension of the compulsory system of training in the Territorial lorce, and pointed out that tho training of the Force was now on a voluntary basis. Ho himself had had experience of both the old volunteer system and the Territorial system in the compulsory days, and he considered that tnere had always been a better spirit amongst the men in tho volunteer units. The present voluntary system was, ho thought, preferable to the compulsory system provided that it could be made a success. To ensure its success, it -was essential that sufficient men should bo offering, and up to the present, in tho local unit, as in many others, those numbers were not forthcoming. He had already held a small meeting to discuss the matter, and it had been decided that an attempt should be made to form an organisation of influential citizens to assist in recruiting and to further the interests of tho local unit Of the Wellington Regi* ment. The Mayor then introduced Captain B. J. Wells, of tho Hutt Valley Company of the Regiment. Captain Wells outlined the system of training since the suspension of the compulsory system in 1930, and stressed the necessity for increased numbei'3 ) of trainees in order that tho training should be as efficient and at the same time as interesting.as possible, and in order that what little money was boiug spent on it at.the present time should not bo wasted. Me considered that very few had regretted the passing of tho compulsory system, but at the same time very few realised that there was a definite obligation to put something equally efficient in its place. Tho Do« fenco Department had provided the nucleus of the new system, and it was now up to all citizens to see that it got adequate support.' In spite of the prejudice against infantry, there' was no reason Why the training should not be made interesting, and the value of thetraining to men in their civil occupations was probably greater in the case of infantry than in the caso of any other arm. A brigade camp was being held this year, and he. was sure that those present would wish,-to see the Lower Hntt detachment able to hold its own at least and so assist the regiment to maintain pride of place against tho Taranaki; Hawke's Bay, and the- Wellington West Coast Regiments. . He considered that public organisations formed to date had failed to bo of great assistance because the matter had been aproached from thewrong angle. It was essential first that there should bo an enthusiastic organisation behind each unit or subunit, and only l>y tho co-operation of those organisations could an effective general territorial association be formed. Arrangements were in train for a ball at Lower Hutt so that trainees would not have to go all the way to Petone for parades, and if a successful recruiting campaign could be carried out—r and this seemed to be possible in view of tho enthusiasm already shown—the cost of training per'head could be substantially reduced. Tho men were (available,', if. they qould. only bo persuaded To como^ forward, to form a whole company in Lower Hutt itself, and this- was the immediato objective. It-was then formally proposed and seconded, that a Regimental Association should, be forniod in Lower llutt, and the motion was carried unanimously. , It was decided that the- association should bft called "The Lower Hutt Association. (Tho Wellington Kcgimont)j" and- a. set of rules was drawn up and approved. ; ';..- Tho election of Officers resulted as. follows:—-President, his Worship the Mayor; vice-presidents, Alexander Roberts, K.8.E., Dr. Bolt, Captain. Sliun,. Messrs. Kidsou, Carlson, D. A. Evven, N. B. Gibbons, Nicholls, and Smith (ono other is: to bo nominated); executive committee, president, vice-presidents, and Councillor Grierson, Major Taylor, and Messrs. Cameron, McKain, McNanght, and Redmond. Mr. K. Soward was elected secretary; Mr. Hill, treasurer; and Mr. liobbs, auditor. A short meeting of the executive was held immediately afterwards, and arrangements are being made . for an early canvass both for recruits for the regiment and further members for the association.