A NATIONAL RESERVE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 31 December 1912, Page 6

A NATIONAL RESERVE.

RECRUITED FROM EX-SOLDIERS. SCHEME APPROVED. (By Telesraph—Press Association.) • Christchurch, December 30. A general desire having been expressed throughout the Dominion, particularly on the part of ex-volunteers for the formation.of a national reserve, the Hon. 11. .Ileaton Rhodes, Acting-Minister for Defence, announces that the formation of such a reserve has been approved by the Government.

The reserve will consist of all man who are not members of the territorial forces, the territorial forces- reserve, or on the active list of rifle clubs., There will be no limit in regard to age, and no conditions except those already stated in respect of membership. It will .be purely a voluntary organisation, and will receive no financial assistance from the Government, which, however, will give it. official recognition.; Its organisation will be by military districts, and. senior retired officers will be asked to undertake each, entirely independent of' the military authorities. . The object of the national reserve in the British Isles is to form - a register of those who have served in many of the military or naval forces of the Crown, and, while being under no obligation for further service, are'willing to come up for service if called on m event of a national emergency. Two classes of duties are set forth. In one class on a national emergency members must join i combatant unit for service m the field, to carry out combat duty in garrisons or other fixed positions, or else perform administrative work in the second class. Members having shov.-n their willingness to come up for service once more if called upon can do much in times of .peace to bring home to the youth of-the nation the fact that every man owes the duty of personal service- to his country, and members will be expected ;to assist in the^ organisation and training of recognised cadet units.

The British national reserve is recognised in the King's Regulations as forming part of. tlie military organisation of the country and the Army Council circular it lifis issued trusts that through, it a, Teal bond, of union, will be created between those still serving and those who have served. . The military authorities in command at Home have been directed to do all in their power to develop and courage this feeling of comradeship.,, As it.' is, not proposed that members of the National Reserve shall, wear uniform in their capacity as members of. the reserve a badge will serve as a pass to local social entertainments both of a civil and military character, and it may be worn by members at any time, but always on the King's Birthday and similar occasions. In no case will ribands be worn with these badges, and-they will not be worn in uniform. . The British local, authorities are asked to do all in their'power to second the .efforts of country associations ;to give the National Reserve a privileged'position in the public life of tho country. Its members will be officially recognised on national ceremonial occasions, and all'local- ■ military functions, and it is hoped that similar privileges will be accorded to them by the county and borough authorities at .public -functions under their control.' In the event of the National Reservists being .employed. on - mobilisation they will receive amiy rates of pay, and an allowance according to their ranks and the appointment ,in which they are employed. Service rendered by National Reservists who are pensioners, if.recalled and;re-enlisted on account of a national emergency, will count toward an increase, of pension.