GOOD PERMANENT FORCE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1930, Page 9

GOOD PERMANENT FORCE

GENERAL. YOUNG’S DESIRE t -SOLDIERING COMING TO A CLOSE. DOMINION MUST BE MADE SAFE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Remarking that his soldiering was now coming to a close, Major-General Young, G.O.C. New Zealand Forces, when speaking at the annual re-union of the Wellington Regiment of the N.Z.E.F. on Saturday evening, Said it was his great wish to leave “a good show” behind him in the way of permanent defence force before he retired from his present position.

“I have never been quick at putting up the SOS” he said, “and I am not going to put it up yet. If I do, though, I know there will bo many who will stand by me. I am coming close to the end of my soldiering. I ‘would like to leave a good show behind me, and six or seven months ago I could have said that was the position. I must leave behind me a good permanent force, and if I do that then New Zealand will be all right whatever may happen. “I would like you in your general talk,” the general concluded, “to stress that one of the best things you can have if you cannot have a territorial force is a good permanent force, that can get out at the sound of the first gun.” Reference to the present position, of the defence forces was also made by several other speakers. “The name you have given the regiment should still be carried on,” Colonel G. 11. Hall, ex-presi-dent of the Wellington R.S.A., said when proposing the toast of “The Regiment.” It was indeed greatly to be regretted that those who had given service and had done so much in training in the old days now saw before them a state of affairs that would provide no adequate .defence force in the future. “It behoves us to rally round and help, to make the defence scheme an efficient one in every way,” he said, adding that if he were a young man and were able to do so he would start a company tomorrow. The training of those present and others in a similar position had gone through would be lost to those following on for the next ten or 15 years.

In reply to the toast Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Cunningham, D. 5.0., said ho was proud to assure the gathering that the territorial battalions were proud of the traditions that had been carried on and handed down by those who had fought with the regiment in the war. Among those present at the gathering were Lieut.-Colonel Avery, C.M.G., D. 5.0., president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, and three of the seven. New Zealanders who won the V.C. in the war —Captain L. W. Andrew and Lieuts. J. G. Grant and S. Frickleton.