INSPECTION OF REGIMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21099, 5 February 1932, Page 10

INSPECTION OF REGIMENT.

GENERAL AT HAMILTON. WAIKATO MEN IN TRAINING. [froji our own correspondent.] HAMILTON. Thursday. "It is rather a coincidence in my career that after 21 years' absence I should again bo inspecting on almost tho identical spot, a, regiment of which I was formerly adjutant," said MajorGeneral W. I/. If. Sinclair-Burgess, general officer commanding the New Zealand Defence Force, when addressing today the Ist Battalion, Waikato Regiment, which is undergoing training in bivouac at Claudelands. It was ;i great pleasure after such a lapse of time to meet the regiment again. It was the first unit he had inspected in bivouac under the new scheme. He said the regiment was not now strong numerically, but when circumstances permitted lie believed it would resume its full strength. The general, who was accompanied by Colonel J. K. Uuigan, olficer in charge of the Northern Command, LieutenantColonel R. D. McFarland, officer commanding the regiment, and Major I\ 11. Bell, staff officer, inspected tho regiment and watched the men at work at gun and signal practice. Interviewed after the. inspection General-Sinclair-Burgess said he was very favourably impressed with tho men in camp. Tho men were, volunteers, in that they were,on service without pay, and al--though their numbers were small, they were the right, stamp. The general oxpressed appreciation of the interest taken in the regiment by tho Hamilton Territorial Association, which had gone, to a lot of trouble to make tho men's stay in camp a pleasant one.