"CITY'S OWN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1939, Page 15

"CITY'S OWN"

PARADE OF BATTALION

INSPECTION BY MAYOR

PUBLIC INTEREST

Great public interest was shown last evening when the Ist Battalion of the Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own) paraded at Buckle Street and marched through the city to th . Town Hall to be inspected by the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop). The battalion is now almost at full strength, and practically every member paraded. The men wore the new blue uniform and made a fine showing as they marched through the streets. The parade was led by the band and pipes and drums of the regiment, and was under the command of LieutenantColonel E. M. Stace, E.D. Several hundred persons gathered at Buckle Street to see the parade formed, and many of these accompanied the march through the city. Hundreds more lined the street or waited at the Town Hall for the men to arrive. At the Town Hall the men were drawn up in. two long lines,, and the Mayor made a formal inspection. He then complimented the men on their marching and general bearing and on the way they had raised the prestige of the regiment during recent months. In offering their services in the regiment they were doing good work for their city, their country, and' themselves. After the inspection the men marched from the Town Hall to the De Luxe Theatre, where a special programme had been arranged for them. ASSOCIATION FORMED. As soon as the regiment had moved off a large number of the members oi the public present entered the Town Hall tp attend a meeting to consider the formation of a regimental association. The Mayor presided, and after a brief discussion an association was formed. The Mayor said"the meeting required very little in the way of introduce tory remarks. It was being held to form an association to work for the efficiency of the regiment. The regiment was now almost at full strength, and the keenness of the men was apparent to all who had seen the parade. Captain B. Barrington, area recruiting officer, said great development had been made during,the last six months and the majoirty of the units in Wellington were near full strength. The young men offering their services were of a good type and would do what was required of them. The citizens should realise that the boys who were serving were volunteering their services and deserved appreciation. In the past the boys who went to Buckle Street received only jeers and it was time for the public to turn out to show its appreciation. Now that the regiment was nearing full strength an association was needed to look after the men and show the public's appreciation of their services. ... The objects of the proposed association were to keep the regiment at full strength, keep up the social life of the regiment, and show a general interest in the training of the men. The men were keen to do their part and the officers were doing their best to train them. Now they were asking for an association to give them public support. RECRUITS STILL. WANTED. Major A. L. George, second in command of the regiment, said the establishment of the regiment was 614 and its present strength 568, a shortage of 46. The regiment could .absorb another 200 men as it was better to be'over strength than under strength. Major E. H. Whiting, district publicity' officer, appealed to all present to show that they were proud'of'the men who were serving. The average age of the recruits was about 19. They were young, but soldiering was a young man's job. The average , boy did not realise, that he had a duty to his country and it was the duty of the older men to encourage the young men who , were serving. Employers should consider those prepared to serve and should help to convince the boys that they were doing right by training. The Ma; or moved that an association to be known as the Wellington Regimental Association be formed This was seconded by Mr. M. F. Luckie, i-.ii carried unanimously.

The following were elected as an executive > committee:—Patron, the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop); president, Mr. F. Ashby; vice-president, Major J. H. Luxford; committee, Colonel C. H. Weston, K.C., D.5.0., Lieut.-Colonel A. Cowles, V.D., Captain J. J. Clark, Messrs. G. T. Kellaway, J. S. Hanna, and C. Singleton.

Mr. W. E. Nisbet said that he was present to represent the Wellington Manufacturers' Association, and was glad to be able to assure the association that the manufacturers of Wellington were solidly behind any support given to the regiment.

Before the meeting closed, Major George thanked the association for the support offered to the regiment. ,