LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15349, 9 July 1913, Page 6

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

(BY FRONTIEKBMAN).

The members of the Legion of Frontiersmen in Auckland have now all received their badges and certificates of enrolment.

Notification has been received that the legionaries in New Zealand are to be included in the defence reserve. The rules and regulations of the reserve have not yet been made known, but all New Zealand members of the legion will have an opportunity of voting on the question of whether or not they agree to come in under the rules.

A Squadron, Auckland, is to move into permanent quarters in the city shortly, and it is understood that a building in Shortland Street has been secured for the purpose. A detachment will roll up for special service in the painting and paperhanging line, and in the general fitting-up of the rooms. Executive and general meetings were held this week, and there was a large muster of members. It was decided that the executive should not. collect the guineas for the second year contribution pending a Dominion ballot on the question of a New Zealand Executive. The " guinea " has long been a vexed question amongst members, and the A Squadron has decided to retain its subscriptions for its own purposes, such as quarters, rifle-shooting, etc., instead of paying them to the executive, and a similar decision was arrived at by the Northern Wairoa Squadron. Now that the Defence Department seems anxious to recognise the formation of the New Zealand section of the legion, it is to be hoped the finance question will be settled to tho satisfaction of all members.

Notice of motion was given at the general meeting to cancel certain rulas which were recently drawn up, the grounds for the nolice being that they were passed by a minority of members who did not understand them, and that the rule's were not submitted to all the member* they were intended to affect. Better knowledge of the legion principles and practice has convinced many that the rules would be unworkable. The ■ rules, as they stand,, require all members in the Auckland Province to pay £1 Is per annum for executive, purposes, whereas, it is contended, this is contrary to the principles of the legion, which requires all money other than the annual subscription of 2s 6d to London headquarters, to be devoted to the men's own purposes. 'The rules also deal with many other matters, but the main objection is to the one referred to. Some 15 months ago, before very much was known of the proper procedure, and before it was known that elections of officers must be by ballot of all members affected, a meeting in Auckland elected a commandant and staff for the Provincial District. These appointments having now lapsed in any case under the rule that all appointments are to be regarded as temporary for the first 12 months, it was decided by the general meeting to regard the appointments as lapsed, and to exercise the squadron right of nomination of a commandant for the North Island, Colonel Allen Bell bcinp selected for the nomination. Other squadrons will be asked to nominate their choice for tho position, and the election will be by ballot of all members in the Island.

The members in Waikato district are issuing a challenge to the Auckland men to a rifle-shooting contest. The Legion Rifle Club, Auckland City, has now been gazetted. The arms adopted by the Auckland members are the short Lee-Enfield rifle and the Weblcy-Scott automatic pistol. Application is being made to London headquarters for permission to net tip a Dominion executive to control legion affairs in New Zealand. During the past year over 400 men in New Zealand have been admitted to membership of the legion, and gazetted on the strength.