LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11505, 29 September 1915, Page 7

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

OFFER TO RAISE REGIMENT. (By Telegraph—Special to the "Star.") WELLINGTON, September 28. An offer of a fully-equipped regiment of 500 men was made to the Government in the House this afternoon by the Legion of Frontiersmen, through Mr Young. The member for "Waikato read a letter from Mr 35. jD'Esture, staff officer for the Legion in New Zealand, in which 500 men, .together with all reinforcements to main tain _ their .strongth, were offered with the intimation that the regiment, if accepted, would probably be raised to a thousand. The men, added the- would.provide their own uniforms if allowed to wear a distinctive one, would pay their own qualified instructors, and go through, the necessary probationary period of training, and would probably also find their -own horses. The Hon J. Allen expressed his gratitucto to tho Irtpion of Frontiersmen, for their generous offer. In the early stages of the war the Legion made a similar offer, which he could not see his way to accept, and many of the men ioined the various reinforcements. These frontiersmen were an admirable body of men. He had been offered n Scottish regiment that afternoon also, and he anticipated offers of Irish, English and Welsh regiments, hut ha had to be absolutely fair. Individual men must register in the ordinary way, and allow the authorities to have our army as a national army. He could not, therefore, give any definite answer, except to say thnt he would consult with the Gc-n----e-al Officr Commanding and the Chief of the General Staff, and would reply more definitely later on.