TEMUKA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20640, 1 February 1937, Page 4

TEMUKA

CONTINGENT FOR THE CORONATION R.S.A. ACTIVITY AiTangements that will enable exsoldiers living in the Temuka district to be nominated for the military contingent that will be sent to London to take part in the coronation of King George VI, have been made by the executive of the Temuka Returned Soldiers’ Association, which held a special meeting for .the purpose. As a guide to the Association, Dominion Headquarters advised by circular that 10 ex-servicemen including one Maori and one South African Veteran would be included in the coronation contingent of 50. Other selections were being made by the Defence Department from among ex-service-men serving at present with the territorial forces, but for the Association’s purpose applications would be accepted from all ex-holdiers, irrespective of the forces with which they served or whether they were members of the R.S.A. Fifty-five would be the age j limit for Great War veterans and applications would require to be of good appearance and behaviour. The selected men would be required in camp by February 26. Preliminary consideration of the applications must be made by local associations, and the preliminary selection by ballot would be made by Headquarters in conjunction with the Defence and Pensions Departments and would be firstly in districts. Then the final decision would be made by the Minister. Applications were requested from Maoris and South African veterans through local associations also. Originally the information stated that ex-servicemen holding commissions but not serving with territorial forces would be debarred from consideration, but the local executive took the matter up and was advised that officers would be. allowed to revert one rank from that permanently held, but that no officer would be allowed to resign his commission to serve in the ranks. A supply of application forms has been received by the local secretary (Mr G. C. Tully) who stated on Saturday that several applications had already been received. Further advice from the Dominion Headquarters stated that all ex-ser-vicemen and their families going to the coronation on their own account and wishing to reserve seating accommodation for the procession must cable the High Commissioner for reservations.