HARI HARI DEFENCE MOVEMENT

West Coast Times, 7 September 1915, Page 4

HARI HARI DEFENCE MOVEMENT

Notwithstanding (he stormy and boisterous weather at Hari Harl on Friday there was an attendance of between thirty and forty residents in the Public Hall to consider the proposal to link up the district with the existing area on this Coast for the purpose of doing something towards assisting the movement in the direction of home defence. Mr. J. J. Alackay, an exmember of the Wellington Submarine Mining Corps, was voted Chairman of the meeting which was very enthusiastic. Captain S. Colclough, Officer in' charge of the. West Coast Area No. 11A., detailed the existing limits of training on this Coast and pointed out that as at present constituted the Hari Hari district was an exempted one but with its iticr,asing population and improving means of transit there was no reason why it should not liecome a drill centre.

He then explained the ages of those liable for training in the Cadets, Territorials and General Training Section and fully detailed the procedure for the formation of a Riflo Club or a Mounted Rifles Corps. The drill to be undertaken by each unit and also the musketry courses to bo fired annually were there outlined and explain ed. Captain Colclough urged the necessity for military training and quoted many instances of its advantages. They must have officers and a secretary who wore real live men and if these a> chosen the movement could not help hut lie a success.

Captain W. deffries, A. Coy |:lth Regiment, supported the remarks of Captain Colclough and emphasised the advantages of a little military and physical training Staif Sergt.-Major 11. J*vy endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers and' urged upon them to realise the great honour of serving (heir country, wt.e.ber in times of peace of stress. The one thing to keep in view was the desire to always “play the game. I hat motto was the one that gave success and prestige to the British sinus tho world ovor.

On the motion of Mr. .Inn. Hewer, seconded by Mr. 0. Davey, it was derided to take the names of all those in the district who would join a Rifle • liib and to report at a future meeting to be held on Saturday, 11th inst, Mr. Hewer to act as secretary. Not less than fifteen names are required and seven were obtained in the room. Sergt.-Major levy then took the names of those eligible for the Cadets and Territorials, there being six of the former and eighteen of the latter. Registration papers were left for the enrolment of several others in the district.

The whole of the men then fell in fm *quad drill and did an hour’s very interesting work. The next parade* will be held on Wednesday, 22nd' September, at 10 a.m. in the Public Hall.