ARTILLERY ARM WANTED

Southland Times, Issue 23897, 16 August 1939, Page 4

ARTILLERY ARM WANTED

Re-Establishment Of

11th Battery

SUPPORT ACCORDED BY CITY COUNCIL

INVERCARGILL’S CLAIMS ADVANCED Strong opposition to a proposal to re-establish the 11th Battery in Dunedin instead of in Invercargill where it was originally. stationed was expressed by a Territorial Association deputation which waited on 'he Invercargill City Council last night. It was explained that the battery was disbanded nine or 10 years ago as one of the Government’s economy measures, and now that batteries were being re-estab-lished in many parts of New Zealand an effort was being made in Dunedin to have the battery established there, where there were already two batteries The deputation was led by Mr W. Grieve, who said they understood that Dunedin and Christchurch already had several batteries, and they Invercargill should have one. If they were to progress with the training of territorials it was necessary to have a full unit and to have a battery for training purpose's. “The position is that the battery was taken away from Invercargill nine or 10 years ago,” said Captain A. G. H. Buchanan, “and there is a strong movement among former members for the restoration of the battery. He added that he had done some personal canvassing, and at least half of the members of Government departments in Invercargill were willing to join the battery. He aid not know, however, whether they would be willing to join another unit There was ample accommodation for the battery, and the men were available to bring it up to the peace-time strength of 81. With the City Council’s assistance they should have no difficulty in convincing the authorities that there was a keen demand for the battery in Invercargill. The Mayor (Mr J. R. Hanan): You are in a position to guarantee that the full complement could be acquired ? Captain Buchanan said there would be no difficulty about the matter at all. He added that he understood there were 18-pounder guns in New Zealand, but they had not yet been converted for tractors.

INTEREST OF FORMER MEMBERS Mr J. B. Thomson, a former member of the battery, said that he had served in France as a member of the New Zealand Field Artillery and, with many others, was anxious to see the battery re-established in Invercargill. “We are unfortunately too far away from headquarters here,” he said. “Batteries are mechanized now, and we have in Southland motor mechanics second to none in New Zealand. These young men should be encouraged, and we should do everything we can to help them.” , ~ L Mr P. Linton Hodge explained that Captain Buchanan had seen only young men in the Public Service so far, and it said a great deal for them that they were willing to join. He suggested that the council should write to Colonel P. H. Bell, officer in command of the Southern Command, stating that the council was unanimously of opinion that the battery should be restored to Invercargill. Support for the deputation was given by Cr L. A. Blar’-.more, who said that the 11th Battery was disbanded nine or 10 years ago as an economy measure, but batteries were being re-established throughout New Zealand. Christchurch had been granted five and Dunedin had two, and was hoping to get the third which should come to Invercargill. Strong pressure had been brought to bear in Dunedin in the service and elsewhere to have that battery established in Dunedin. He moved: “That this council communicate with Colonel Bell, officer in command of the Southern Command, expressing its concern at any suggestion that the 11th Battery should be reestablished anywhere else than in Invercargill, and expressing the view that its establishment in the near future would do a great, deal to, encourage recruiting in Invercargill.” The Mayor said tha + the suggestion to give a third battery to Dunedin and cut Invercargill out was absolutely ridiculous. The population of Southland was increasing at a greater percentage rate than that of Otago, and it would show a grave discrimination ag-inst Southland if the battery was established in Dunedin and not in Invercargill. The motion was carried, and it was decided to send copie.' of the letter to the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), Mr W. M. C. Denham, MJP., Mr J. Hargest, M.P., and Colonel Parkinson, officer in charge of the New Zealand Artillery. PUBLIC SUPPORT OF N.Z. FORCES RECOGNITION BY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, August 15. “I know, and the New Zealand public must know, that without the public’s support no army can exist, but I am pleased to say that the people of this country are behind the New Zealand forces,” said the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General J. E. Duigan) at the New Zealand Industries Fair tonight, when more than 700 members of Canterbury territorial units paraded. New Zealand was concentrating on her mobile forces at present, said MajorGeneral Duigan, and those torces were rapidly being brought up to full strength and made efficient, both in training and with modem equipment, with the hope that the fear of invasion could be reduced to a minimum. There are now three army district schools for training personnel. “We are not aiming at a force of 50,000 men but at one that will be very mobile and possess great fire power,” Major-General Duigan said. “Today a man with a modem automatic weapon such as the Bren, Vickers or Hotchkiss gun can provide a most effective means of defence. The army is being modernized as rapidly as possible. A tremendous amount of modem equipment is on order and is coming quickly to hand.”