NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2402, 6 March 1915, Page 8

NATIONAL RESERVE

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING OF RAILWAYMEN. One of the best/meetings yet held to inaugurate a branch of the National Reserve was-that of the railwaymen, held last night. Upwards of 100 men, representing all branches- of the service, were present. Mr. E. A. Dawson presided. Colonel Hiley, commanding the New Zealand Railway Engineers was present. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. F. C. Widdop; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. P. Williams, — Meek, J. Bevin, J. Gordon, M. Guthrie, H. J. Wynne, and G. E. Richardson; chairman of committee, Mr. E. A. Dawson; president, Mr. A. W. Hutchings; provisional committee, Messrs. — Meek, A. H. Hart, J. Barr, P. J. M'Govern, A. Mackie, 1. Barclay, J. F. Mackley, J. Ash, R. S. Kent, and T. A. Walsh.

Colonel Hiley commended the objects of tho National Reserve to those ablebodied men not able to go to the front, saying that it seemed to him to be the duty of such men to train to defend the country. Ho hoped the railwaymen 'would not go into the business half-heartedly. There were two fully equipped battalions already in the railway, service, and these'should give the railway branch of tho National Reserve a big advantage over all others. The ultimate object of the training of the National' Reserve should be rifle shooting, which would be far more important for such a body than great pro-' ficiency'' in drill. The special distinct objective, of lEe railwaymen's section should be to train for the defence of lines of communication, of which tho railways themselves would be the most important. The railway battalions of the Territorial Force would help the Reserve by suppljdng instructors, and later by lending rifles. He hoped all present would induce as many other men as possible to join the Reserve, and that they would all set to work with a will to make themselves .efficient. . .

The chairman announced that there were already over 100 names on the rolls, and- that the rolls were by no means complete. It was confidently hoped that there would be over 300 in the .Wellington * district. He thought it would be wiee to divide the branch into -three sections or corps, one for the head office, ono for Lambt-on and yard, and one for Thorndon and yard. The suburban men would be welcomed to any of tho sections,, ar.d presently it might be possible to establish a section at Petone or elsewhere. . The annual subscription was fixed at a sum in the discretion of members not less than 2s. 6d. per member. The question was raised as to whether men would be allowed to wear their badges on duty, and Colonel Hiley at once said that the management would make no objection to such a practice. Indeed, he hoped that all the men would wear their badges on duty.

There was a brief discussion on the qnedtion of liow officers abould be elected. It was laid down by Colonel Hilev and other speakers that officers ought to bo selected on merit alone, irrespective of what division or what, grade of tbo service tbe.v were in. ' There was a suggestion thai the selection should be by a ballot of members, possibly taken by post. The wholo question was deferred until tbe meeting at which the rules should be affirmed.

Tlie meeting concluded with' a vote of thanks to the chairman and tlie singing of the National Anthem.