A BIG GATHERING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 131, 6 June 1938, Page 10

A BIG GATHERING

BUT ROOM FOR MORE

MAYOR MAKES APPEAL

THE WELLINGTON REGIMENT

After a lapse of 24 years a military parade was held in Wellington today to celebrate the King's Birthday, and although the morning was dull and cold there was a. full muster of the Regular Forces, Territorials, and Cadets, and the public showed a lively interest. The parade consisted of a muster on the Aotea Quay breastwork to give the Royal Salute, a march past, and a parade through the city, and by the time it was concluded the sun was shining brightly, and the crowded streets presented a cheerful appearance. Speaking from the steps of the Town Hall, the Mayor made an appeal for more young men to enlist in the Territorials. The troops commenced to gather at their assembly points shortly after 9 a.m., and marched to the breastwork, where they formed up for inspection. A large crowd of spectators lined the waterfront by the time the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General J. E. Duigan, C.B:, D.5.0.) arrived, and was received with the general salute, the band of the First Battalion Wellington Regiment playing a slow march as the salute was given. General Duigan then inspected the parade, and after the inspection the parade commander. Colonel X. T. Standish, C.M.G., D.5.0., R.N.Z.A., A.D.C. to the King, who was accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Row, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., as brigademajor, and Captain V. G. Jervis, N.Z.S.C., as staff captain, gave command of the parade to the General. General Duigan then gave the orders for the Royal Salute, the Royal Standard was broken at the masthead as the troops presented arms, the National Anthem was played by the band of the Wellington Regiment, and the saluting battery at Point Jerningham commenced firing 21 guns. While the battery wag still firing General Duigan called for three cheers, for. his Majesty, and these were given with a waving of hats.. Returning the command of the parade to Colonel Standish, General Duigan left the parade ground with an escort of motor-cyclists to take up his position at the saluting base between Waterloo Quay and the wharves. He was accompanied by Captain R. D. Oliver, R.N., and Wing-Commander L. M. Isitt, R.N.Z.A.F., and staff officers. During the march past music was played by the Artillery Band. THE MABCH PAST. The parade was led by a battery of anti-aircraft guns, followed by three large searchlights. Then came a battery of field guns, two batteries of 6inch howitzers, and the motor-cycle platoon of the Wellington Regiment. Four companies of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve made a splendid showing, as also did the Fifteenth Battery of the Coast Artillery. Led by their pipes and drums and military band, the First Battalion Wellington Regiment, .under the command of Major A. L. George, marched by in companies. While the regiment did not show great numerical strength, the men on parade were a good type and their excellent marching indicated their keenness. The Engineers, Signallers, the Army Service Corps, and the 2nd Field Ambulance of the New Zealand Medical Corps had a good muster, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force detachment with its band, and the Wellington Territorial Squadron of the Air Force made a splendid impression, their neat uniforms and soldierly marching drawing cheers from the crowd. ' The detachment was trained in marching at the Army School, Trentham, by Army instructors. One of the most pleasing features of the parade was the excellent turnout of college cadets, who marched well and did not lose anything by comparison with the test of the parade. Colonel E. M. Stace was responsible for the parade of cadets, who come under his command as C.O. of the Wellington Regiment. The Wellington College cadets with their drums and bugles headed the column and were followed by Rongotai College, Scots College with its kilted pipe band looking particularly neat, St. Patrick's College (Wellington) with drums and bugles, Petone Technical College, and St. Patrick's College (Silverstream), also with drums and bugles. MEMORIAL SALUTED. As the parade numbered nearly 2000 officers and other ranks, the head of the column had proceeded well into

the city before the last of the cadets had passed the saluting base. A large crowd had gathered at the Wellington Citizens' War Memorial, where about 100 returned soldiers, wearing medals and decorations, formed a guard of honour and kept the square before the memorial clear. . Each unit saluted the memorial in passing and then moved along Lambtori Quay, Willeston Street, Victoria Street, and down Mercer Street to pass in front of the Town Hall. On the steps of the Town Hall the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), accompanied by General Duigan and city councillors, stood out above the large crowd of citizens thronging both sides of Cuba Street. The Mayor, who was wearing his robes and chain,of.office, took the salute on behalf. Of. .the city as the column marched past. After the Wellington Regiment. had . passed it turned into Wakefield. Street, and when the remainder. of. the. parade had gone on to dismissal points the regiment marched back to ..the. front of the hall. While this manoeuvre was being executed the Mayor spoke over the air from a microphone on the Town Hall steps. MORE RECRUITS WANTED. The people of Wellington, said the Mayor, must have been favourably impressed by the parade, but they must also have been impressed by the need for more men in the Territorial Forces. Practically every member of the Wellington Regiment was on parade and it waa clear, that .a. great many more men were, .required to make a full battalion. He expressed the hope that the general. public would get behind the authorities and encourage voluntary enlistment. At the present time it was the hounden duty of everyone to help with defence. "If we are not prepared to protect our country we deserve to lose it," he said. After his Worshop had inspected the battalion he again gave a short address over ■ the air, referring on this occasion to ■ the new blue uniform which is to be issued to the Territorials. A Territorial dressed in the new uniform was ■ present- and Mr. Hislop described- the -smart appearance of the dress, and commented on the way these uniforms were being cut to fit the wearers.