NEW ZEALAND'S PART

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1938, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

REGIMENTAL STRENGTH

HOME DEFENCE

"It is a very saddening sight to those of us who have seen any service at all to see so few on a parade of the Wellington Regiment," remarked Mr. J. S. Hanna, chairman of the Karori auxiliary of the Returned Soldiers' Association, at a well-attended meeting in the Parish Hall, Karori, last night of those interested in the formation of a Karori platoon of the regiment. "You can't kid us that half a company of young fellows is a battalion. We know what the strength of a battalion is. There are four companies, four highly efficient companies with 24 men to ,a platoon when stripped down to battle order." In making his appeal to the young men of the district to assist in bring ing the regiment up to full strength, Mr Hanna laid stress on the fact that in joining up there was only one real qualification "All" that is wanted in the Wellington Regiment is the young fellow with a bit of 'guts,'" he said. "It was that type of young fellow who helped to make the New Zealand Division what it was in the Great War, and it is plain that there are young fellows such as that who today can make the Wellington Regiment what it should be." COUNTRY AND COMRADESHIP. Three points of special consideration were made by Mr. Hanna, as follows:— 1. Soldiering is a man's job; 2. There is no comradeship to compare with the comradeship of soldiers; and 3. In time of war, if war comes, there is only one creed for the young men of the country, and, for that matter, for every citizen—"My country right or wrong." In stating that the request for cooperation in forming a platoon of the Wellington Regiment made a special appeal to the Karori auxiliary of the R.S.A.. Mr. Hanna mentioned that it also made a' special appeal to those who had the honour of serving in the Wellington Regiment during the Great War. "I would be a brave man if I told you that the Wellington Regiment was the best in the New Zealand Division," he remarked. "Others would readily claim that theirs was the best. But I can tell you that the New Zealand Division a very happy family indeed, was a very well organised and highly efficient division. Those who were with it for any length of time can tell you that. If you had had the opportunity of seeing it on parade —and there were some occasions when it was on parade—you would have tingled with pride. . . It was young fellows such as you who really made the New Zealand Division and the Wellington Regiment." Mr. Hanna then spoke of the part played by the sportsmen of the day, and to them he paid tribute with a special word for Colonel Malone and his influence so far as the regiment was concerned. WAR NOtf WANTED. "If war were declared tonight, and you all know there is just a chance that it may be," said Major E. H. Whiting, "I know that nearly everybody would say. 'T am off up to Buckle Street.' But what are you going to do when you get to Buckle Street? It is essential that you be trained, and the attendance here shows that you are at least interested in fitting yourselves to be of service to your country should occasion arise. "I do not want to see war again, and I believe the way to stop war is to have an efficient defence force. The Territorials are for home defence and home defence only. If you are asked to join you are asked to do it for the protection of your own homes. "There is no obligation to serve overseas," Major Whiting added. "If any force is wanted to go overseas they will call for volunteers." Various details of what was required of those responding to the present appeal were given by Major Whiting and Captain B. Barrington, who were present in an official capacity for recruiting purposes. The formation of a platoon was put under way at the meeting.