CONTINGENT AT CORONATION

Southland Times, Issue 23337, 22 October 1937, Page 4

CONTINGENT AT CORONATION

RETURN OF LEADER SPLENDID BEARING OF MEN (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 21. Considerable pride and satisfaction with the appearance and bearing ot the New Zealand Coronation contingent in England was expressed by the Commander, Major N. W. McD. Weir, who arrived at Auckland by the Rangitiki from London after having spent some time at the senior officers school, Sheerness, in Kent, and on manoeuvres with the 6th Infantry Brigade. “Our men did their job very well, indeed,” said Major Weir, “and their work on parade was the subject of very favourable comment in many quarters. Their bearing on parade and their arms drill were all that could be desired.” , Referring to the criticism which had been levelled at New Zealand uniforms Major Weir said it was to be remembered that the uniform was essentially a service one and he thought the criticism was rather unnecessary because of that. In the Coronation procession the New Zealand contingent had followed the South Africans in khaki drill and were close to the Australians, whose emu plumes had attracted much attention. This may have occasioned some of the comment. England’s recruiting was now proceeding most satisfactorily. It was far better than last year and at least two new infantry battalions were, to his knowledge, being raised. Mechanization methods called for an extraordinarily high standard of training and in the regular army this standard was being reached rapidly. Of the equipment which he had seen Major Weir chose the new anti-tank gun for special mention. The official time for such a gun to come into action from the time of movement was 25sec, and he had seen it start firing in 19sec. Eight men handled it. The gun was something quite new and had astonishing performances.