NATIONAL RESERVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 18, 21 July 1939, Page 5

NATIONAL RESERVE

MUSTER PARADE

WELLINGTON COMPANY

ADDRESS BY MR. LEE

The preliminary organisation of the Class II National Military Reserve men in Wellington was brought into being last night at a muster parade held at the Drill Hall, Buckle Street. More than 600 ex-servicemen, ex-regulars, and men who have served in other parts of the Empire, attended, and they were addressed by Major F. L. Hunt, Area Staff Officer, Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., and Major E. H. Whiting. These men will form the Wellington Company of the Class II section of the National Reserve. Their duties will include the augmenting of fortress work and protection of vital points in Wellington and administration and training duties in the event of mobilisation. "Fellow-diggers, I have come down here tonight to thank you on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, and the people of New Zealand for the spirit you have displayed by turning up here in this first muster to show that, if need be, you are prepared to carry your share of the citizens' responsibility," said Mr Lee. "We want to get the youngsters of the Territorial Force to be proud of the uniform and of the regimental tradition, to be proud of the part played by other men in other days," said Mr. Lee, when appealing to those present to do their best to interest the young men in the work of defence. "Nothing will help more to achieve that sense of pride than the action of you fellows who, knowing the tragedy of war, are nevertheless prepared to do your bit. What is wanted from you is that word of encouragement to our young fellows. We want you to encourage them for the good of New Zealand." Mr. Lee spoke of the part played by the New Zealanders during the Great War when the Germans broke through at the Somme and they were sent forward to fill the breach in the line., Once the New Zeaianders closed that gap it stayed closed, he said. "So it will be recognised that we have our traditions here in New Zealand just as the older regiments in other parts of the Empire have their traditions," said Mr. Lee. "We are going to make that tradition live again and make the men and women of New Zealand conscious of it and make them believe that serving is not only a duty but an honour." RECRUITING PROBLEMS. Major Whiting briefly addressed the men on some of the problems of recruiting and appealed to any of them who might be employers to approach their employees and offer them facilities to undergo military training. Major Whiting reminded his listeners that at the end of the war returned soldiers said they never wanted to see a uniform again. "Tell your boys today that you realise times have changed and that your opinions have changed," he said. Major Hunt explained to the men the various classes of duty Ihey would be required to undertake in the event of a national emergency and the extent of the proposed training courses. He said that the training would be commenced as soon as the required instructors could be obtained and that it would be under way within a month at the latest. He drew attention to a display of machine-guns, signalling apparatus, Bren gun-carriers, and other weapons which had been arranged for the reservists to see, and said that many of them would be familiar to those present because they were still virtually the same as during the war. Some men, because of war wounds and for other reasons, were not fit for duty with the service platoons, but in the event of mobilisation several hundred would be wanted to carry out the big administrative task involved. That, he knew, meant a sacrifice on the part of the men, but he felt sure they would make it. A brief address on the Bren gun was given by Lieutenant Douglas Curtis, N.Z.S.C., Assistant Area Officer, and the men were later able to inspect the weapon in its carrier. The men were later marshalled into three groups comprising officers, n.c.o.s, and other ranks, respectively, and their names and other particulars were recorded.