RESERVISTS WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 512, 20 May 1909, Page 6

RESERVISTS WANTED.

FORMATION OF A CORPS. Some thirty ex-members ,of the Wollington Garrison Artillery (Wellington Navals) met last' evening-jto consider : :the ' question of forming a reserve corps. Major A. R. Hislop, of lie Active list, presided. Lieutenant-Colonel J.' Duncan, who formerly commanded the Navals, urged that there should ;be more than lip-service, and that' if a rescrvo oorps were formed, it stould at <mce mako itself efficient; and resolve to continue so. • r • " ,- ■' .. - A membor thought that tie Government's offer of ss. a year capitation, and 100 rounds of ; ammunition,' - was an insufficient, inducement :'to. the'formation ■of reserves. ' : ' 3lr. Steon moved ;that a committee shouldbe -appointed to approach the Government on-the; matter, and report later. : , Captain Biss urged tnat the reserve should not be made so attractive as to draw men away from-the .existing,corps. It must not be understood that former members of tho , company w;ould be able to join the reserve in the same positions as-they had previously, held. The .'.-forts were, .shockingly- undermanned; .ho would l like'.to see another 100 men in. the active force, and 50 in tho rc..serve._ They must'persuade the Government that it" was .necessary to have .special regulations for the .garrison artillery- reserve. A fatal " mistake had been mado in drawing up one set of regulations .for all the forces, but he thought that this would be remedied if .pressure wero brought, to.bear. .' ' Captain :Menzies 1 considered that' the reservo corps might drill for qik. months without uniform, till tho prospects of tho corps were [ fully known. Thirty_ names were received of persons willing to join. the reserve. / ' The ohairman thought that a total of fifty was adyisablo before members approached the Govermhcnt. ; - . ' . : Mr. Cauper (hon. secretary) moved as an amendmfint, toe" nucleus of thirty be empowered to drill for three months, and that if a sufficient attendance was then available, th#" Government should bo approached. , .The opinion was expressed that a great many_ more nades would -be;. ebtained at, once if the proposal were more widely known. Appreciation ..was expressed of tie secretary's eftorts-in-tho-movement. ■ ,v>. • Captain Biss moved,-as, a further amendment: "Tliat a sub-committee of six be appomted to confer with the.officers of the New 1 Zeaiand. Naval; Artillery and the Wellington Waval Aitillory, to ascertain thp directions in which a reserve oould assist inthe work at the forts; the sub-committee then to up a report asjo details of the duties ,and general working or the reserve, such report to be circulated .among 'all- ex-members of.-' the Volunteer Gairisoh. Artillery now residing in the Wellington district; with a request that they :will enrol , themselves in such ro.Borvo. 1 ' . • v • • . Mr. Couper withdrew hia amendment: in favour of this. : \ . .Captain Diss's amendment was adopted and . the, following were appointed as a.eomnuttee :—Major Hislop,. Captains •;; Biss and Alenzies, Lieutenant -Devan,' Messrs. Griifiths and. Couper."/• ■ •; '