SCOTTISH REGIMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16021, 13 September 1915, Page 5

SCOTTISH REGIMENT.

PROPOSED FORMATION.

CONFERENCE TO FURTHER IDEA

[by telegraph. —PßESS ASSOCIATION.]

AsHntTRTOX, Sunday. A proposal to send from the Dominion a Scottish regiment, to be composed of men of Scottish birth or parentage, to do service at the front was outlined to a reporter to-day by Mr. D. McLaren, exmember of Parliament for Wellington East, and ex-Mayor of Wellington. He said that a conference of Scottish societies' representatives had been held in Wellington on June 23 last, the object being to endeavour to federate various Highland, Scottish and Caledonian Societies to have general oversight over pipe music, dancing and athletic games. Since, then the question of using Scotsmen to take special part in the -raising of troops for service had been discussed. He had received a circular from W. Gillespie, secretary of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society, inviting delegates to be present at a conference to be held on Friday, September 23, at Palmerston North. The movement was directed towards securing the formation of a strong Highland regiment similar to that which had been raised by the Dominion of Canada, and to the London Scottish Regiment, which had done such excellent work at the front. An appeal was being made to the whole of the Highland, Scottish and Californian societies to unite their forces and to make a general request to the Government' that a "kiltie" regiment should bo called up. The society taking the matter up was making an appeal to, its " brither Scots" throughout the Dominion with full confidence that the movement would have their unanimous support.