KILTED SOLDIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 10

KILTED SOLDIERS

A HIGHLAND REGIMENT PROPOSAL BEFORE CABINET EARLY DECISION LIKELY It is likely that within the next week or so Cabinet will make its decision on the proposal for the establishment of a regiment of Highland troops in New Zealand. This statement was made by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) in an interview with a E>aily Times reporter on Saturday. Scottish Societies' Support Outlining the proposal, the Minister said that if the idea were accepted by Cabinet there would be in each of the four main centres a company of Highland troops composed of 125 men, who would be attired probably in the uniform of the famous Black Watch regiment. Scottish societies throughout New Zealand were enthusiastic about the proposal, and were confident that there would be ample support from young men, and it was considered that the establishment of a Highland regiment would provide a valuable link with the country from which so many of the pioneers of New Zealand had come. Total Establishment

Mr Jones said that the establishment aimed at for the territorial' forces of New Zealand was 9200, and if the decision were made to have a Highland regiment the members of the regiment would be included within that establishment. The nroposal which had been made by the Scittish societies was that a contribution should be made both by them and by the recruits towards the cost of the kilted uniform, which was rather more expensive than that issued to the present territorial units, and it was considered that there would be no difficulty in finding 125 men in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. and Dunedin to foim the companies. Acquisition to Cities

The Minister said that the kilts and accessories of the Black Watch tartan would be worn in conjunction with the blue or khaki jackets of the present territorial uniform. He considered that a companv of men uniformed in this way, and preceded by a pipe band in full Highland uniform, would be an acquisition to any of the cities as well as providing a stimulus to recruiting which the present state of world affairs rendeied necessary.