SECOND STEP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26957, 17 December 1948, Page 4

SECOND STEP

Territorial Force OFFICERS APPOINTED “The second important step towards building up a post-war territorial force has now been taken,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, in a statement to the Daily Times yesterday. The Minister was commenting on the Gazette notice published last night containing the names of commanding officers of territorial force units.

“The first step",” the Minister said, “was the reconstitution of the units, as announced in the Gazette about a month ago. The organisation then set out-representing a division, and including three armoured regiments and some additional troops, besides static coast and anti-aircraft units—will be unchanged, whether service is to he universal or voluntary. It is now, therefore, possible to proceed with the preliminary work of building up a territorial force in a logical and orderly manner. “The next step will be the appointment, in consultation with the commanding officers, of other officers and any n.c.o.’s who volunteer to serve. These officers will then be given a refresher course, so that when it has been decided whether military service is to be universal or voluntary, the territorial force will begin its training under experienced leaders who are familiar with the latest training methods and the latest developments in military technique.” Mr Jones said the commanding officers whose appointments were now announced had all had distinguished service in the recent war. They were prepared to continue serving in the territorial force until other officers had been trained and were capable of taking over from them. “ I wish to thank those officers,” Mr Jones concluded, “ who have been commanding these units since the end of the war, and have assisted ipaterially in keeping alive the traditions and ‘spirit of the old territorial force. They have now handed over to the new commanding officers and have gone into honourable retirement.”