MOUNTED RIFLES

Evening Star, Issue 23737, 19 November 1940, Page 6

MOUNTED RIFLES

URGENT NEED FOR HORSES OVER 600 REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY SELECTION BY TRAVELLING BOARDS An urgent and immediate appeal is being made throughout Otago and Southland for horses for tho Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment which is to go into training in the near future. A special committee has been set up which will direct and control the work ot two boards that are being created to select the military mounts in the various country districts. The Regimental Committee, consisting of the Officer Commanding the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment (Lieutenantcolonel 0. L. Ferens, E.D.), Mr C. V. Dayus, district superintendent, Department of Agriculture, and Lieutenant R. E. Johnston, adjutant, 0.M.R., has to have its work of co-ordination completed by December 20 nest. “ Many readers may have listened with interest to Major-general Sir Andrew Russell’s appeal over the air on November 10,” stated Lieutenantcolonel Ferens in an interview this morning. “Ho is chairman of the Army Board, which is responsible for the provision of horses throughout New Zealand. The Otago Mounted Rifles require 629 horses, of which number 40 will be used as pack horses for the Vickers and Hotchkiss guns. The standard of horses required is 14.2 to 15.3 hands, but colour is no bar. Tho ages must be from five to 12 years, at the discretion of the travelling board, but a well-broken horse, quiet to ride and rising five years will be accepted. ‘‘The whole of the farming community will realise the imperative need for horses,” continued Lieu-tenant-colonel Ferens, “ and that they be made available for the training of the Otago Mounted Rifles. I sincerely hope that this patriotic appeal will meet with immediate success. Should the necessary number of horses not be forthcoming, the Government has power to impress all the horses required during the state of war. APPEAL TO OWNERS. “ An appeal, therefore, is now made to all owners of horses throughout North Otago, Otago, and Southland to communicate with tho local stock inspectors in their districts. Tho matter is urgent,” he added. “ The Regimental Board is receiving the valuable cooperation of the Farmers’ Union and members of the farming community cognisant of requirements.” The Mounted Rifles were scheduled to go into 'camp for a period of territorial intensive training, Lieutenantcolonel Ferens explained, hence the urgent need for horses. Two boards would operate, one in Otago and North Otago and one in Southland, and these would commence their duties on November 26 and 27.

The personnel of the board operating in Southland and Wallace, Clutha, Bruce, Taieri, and Tuapeka Counties will be Captain W. Pierson, of the 0.M.R., chairman, with a representative of the Department of Agriculture (live stock division) and one from the Farmers’ Union. For the Lake, Vincent, Maniototq, Waitaki, Waihemo, and Wakouaiti Counties the board will consist of Captain A. S. Nicolson. 0.M.R., and a representative of the Department of Agriculture (live stock division) and one from the Farmers’ Union. 1 These boards will be concerned with the inspection and selection of mounts. • BRANDING AND REGISTERING. On inspection being made by the travelling boards a special contract form giving a description of the horse will be signed in triplicate, if the horse is accepted a motal disc will be issued with the regimental serial number. This disc will be attached to the horse when the owner receives instructions to take it to a collecting centre when trucking horses to camp. The branding of the horses with the regimental number on the near fore hoof will be done in camp. METHOD OF PAYMENT. A bonus of £5 is to be paid to every owner of a horse, and compensation (if any) to be paid for damage or injury to a horse while in the possession of the Army, will he limited to £2O; but should a horse have to be destroyed while in the Army the bonus will be deducted. ASSEMBLY OF HORSES.

Full details will fee issued to all stock inspectors in. the regimental area some time in January so that definite arrangements can be made for the assembly and trucking of horses for the annual camp. The regimental commander will detail parties of men for the collection and trucking, while veterinary officers will also be in attendance. The same procedure will be adopted when the horses are returned after the Territorial intensive training has been completed. TRANSFER OF HORSES.

In cases of death after selection by the board concerned, the owner must notify the nearest stock inspector or send word direct to the adjutant of the Otago Mounted Rifles. Should the owner sell a horse or should it be rendered unfit before proceeding to camp, but after acceptance by the board, the responsibility will bo on the owner also to noMfy the local stock inspector or the adjutant, 0.M.R., Dunedin. NOMINATING RIDERS.

When owners pass their horses over to the Government they will have the right to nominate the rider, and as far as possible the regimental commander will carry out the owners’ wishes.