THE NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2748, 17 April 1916, Page 7

THE NATIONAL RESERVE

MEETING OF OFFICERS ORGANISATION DISCUSSED QUESTION OF DISCIPLINE , A special meeting of officers of tko National Eeserve in Wellington District was,held last week. ' There was a full ' -attendant*, over which Colonel Porter, C.8., Dominion Commandant of tho National Eeserve, presided. The chairman traced how the movement within the short space of.lß months had been linked lip throughout the Dominion, und was n*iv rocognised by Act of Parliament. The' necessary regulations, approved by-the Defence Department, had been gazetted, and now the rules had been issued, enabling them to go ahead. • As Commandant the duty now 'devolved upon him of recommending the .Dominion 'Oounoil, comprising the commandants of the seven National Eeserve Dsitnotsfonr principal districts (Auckland, Wellirgton, Canterbury, and Otago), and three-sub-districts (Marlborough, Nelson, and aouthland). Ho had the names, of the commandants of those districts ready to recommend'to'the'Defence Department to ' Gazette. As 'soon as that was dono a meeting of the council \vould follow, and the-council .would lay down certain rules and conduct any businqss that might bo brought up from different parts of the Dominion for consideration. Butuntil that oounoil was formed, and all the conditions' carried out, \ they had .0 a certain" extent to cany on under present conditions. As tho Dominion part of the workwould ontail very heavy duties upon him ho .would have to ask them to select a, District Commandant. He would therefore ask. them to appoint a. select committee to submit names of any experienced officer who would take up the. position; That officer would he under his command just tho samo, and he would work in every way with him to.reorganise and re-distribute the units of the Wellington District. He felt that Wellington must set a. good example, because the •whole Dominion Hooked, to it. "I shall/' he said, "be very glad to give any information, if any officer present wishes to ask .for any interpretation or explanation of the rules or regulations, or what the offset of any of those clauses may be. But I think you will understand tliat we cannot maSe any amendment or alteration- in/either the regulations or the rules. If,' however, we do not like them we need not serve under them. Nevertheless, if any nseful suggestion is made and I can myself amend within my power I will do.it, If.it is a matter that requires further consideration and attention by the oouncil when it is formed; I will lay it before the council when it meets, but, as I say, we cannot at present go outside the rules laid down." Qualifications of -Officßrs. Major Tennant said, with regard to the appointment of officers under the regula!tions, it'appeared-to be optional what the Selection Board might do in the matter. Was it proposed to ask-all officers to qualify by examination? /The chairman said they must bear in mind that this dealt with'the whole Dominion. The intention ,was that lists-of .all. the officers throughout the Dominion 6hould be furnished to the oounoil, and' that council, being the Selection Board, would have a return of those officers who were already appointed showing previous services.. If they were already military officers on the Army List they wonld require no further consideration, and their appointment would be confirmed:. Supposing there was a captain 'acting as a major. • The intention was that he should undergo his examination for the higher rank of major. Tho syllabus for those examinations.would' be- laid' down, and oandidates';wo'uld J go.'iip for examination at. the same time as the Territorial officers for thoir rank/ Ufficers would have to pass for the .rank . they might be promoted'to. If they held no actual rank in the Army List they would have to undergo an examination for their positions—viz., every six months, when the Territorial 'examinations took place. There was one point in regard to which tno Defence Department had had to be battled with. ■ Tie Department had oV Jected to giving commissions at all to National Eeserve officer*. He.had asked: "Why "should you object if they are quali- • fied and part of the Defence Department? VTliy should they not get their commissions?'" This had beem fought over for some time, and it was agreed eventually that these commissions should be honorary. They would be parchment commissions, signed in the.proper course, wlienthe men passed. The only difference was that they would be called honorary. He lidded that if a mian was not on the Army List and hod served he. would-'get the benefit of the rank he had held, although not'of that rank now. ■

Major Amos asked if they in the National Reserve were under the General Staff of 'the Defence Department. - The chairman replied" that' they were nl! under the General Staff by the Regulations. . The Oath of Servleß, Major Tennant raised the question of taking the oath. Regulation 10 said: "All members of the National Reserve already enrolled should be deemed-to have made a military declaration of service, submitting during the continuance of membership to the conditions of the King's Regulations. '/All members who may enrol in the future shall' make a military declaration of service as above." . WHat did that mean? . ' ' , The chairman said that a man would make a voluntary offer, of service,' and agree to abide by certain 'conditions. Under tho old state of affairs he was not bound. Those.who elected to continue would be bound under" a-military obligation. It was done for the reason that Jjjey couM not make even- man of the iv.WiQ Reservists enrolled sign a fresh enrolment paper containing a fresh de. claration. Regulation 10 was meant to meet that position. If a man chose' to oontmue in the National Reserve under that regulation he came under the military obligation of a declaration. But in tulure, the form of enrolment would bo altered, and a man would make an actual declaration of service. Men who objected i th '!, wollM .go out, as they had a right to. Others would prefer to become honorary members, supplementary to the strength of their unit, and doing no drill but other work which was open to .them' A circular had been issued to officers to get the men classified under the denominations. Wlien tho various states came In they would bo considered, and it might be necessary to make a redistribution, amalgamating some companies and doing a-war with others. They must have a redistribution under the new conditions and a reorganisation. Tho council would not be formed, for nearly a month, so that there would b'o time to get the necessary information. ' ' Lieutenant Norton Taylor suggested that some means be adopted of getting pre.sent active members sworn in while they were'enthusiastic, and bold them to that. Personally, ho considered that until they could swear men in and have on oath to bind them by and some means of inflicting punishment if they broke their oath, the best that the execntivo or unit commanders could do would bo of little avail. Tho chairman said that what Lieut. Tayjor had indicated was really the intention, and he thought full power was given under the regulation. But this could be most easily effected by tho O.C.'« themselves. The new declaration would be something like this: "T hereby 'declnfs that I will faithfully and duly serve T-Hs Majesty- the King in th» National Reserve of New Zealand until I am lawfully discharged." . T.ieut. Taylor: Is it binding in law? Tho chairman; "Oh jjos." Tho now enrolment-forms would require to be sign, ed before a Justice of the Peace or sb'mcon« named in Hie declaration. How to Deal with Recalcitrants: Major' Newton said that under that rleclaration the O.C. could not enforce disu ciplitia the same as he could under the Territorial system. The chairman answered that there wse a clause in the regulations governing the National .Ressrre thAt the council might

make rules [or gcnonil conduct. There would no doubt be a general code of rules sotting out j)ciiiiltiivs fur liltlo bronchos of military discipline. Major Newton said that if a man so desired they could not do'other than accept his resignation. •

The chairman replied Hint llio.v could. No ninu could send in his resignation, hecauso that would bo simply dchniice. 'L'liey could say: "Wo will not accent your resignation. We will place you under arrest;"; and that wait instead of being allowed Lo' resign, would bo tried for in. subordination.

Major llislop fe|i; that Ilioy would kill tlm National Jtcsci'vo if they could not trust to tho honour of the. nieii to turn U|> on parade and behave themselves properly. If'tho men hud to nign such a document- as liad been mentioned, ho thought would kill the movement altogether. The chairman said tho matter rested with the council, which might take Major Hislop's view.Bast Men 'Would Take the Oath. Major Tregear said it was evidont to him that tho conditions under which they had onlistod men for the Nntional Eoservo wero altering very' much, and ho questioned whether men enrolled under former beliefs would remain in it. lie urged 'that- thor.o was a need' for the organisation; in order-to secure sufficient anna in the country, so that what had happened in tho past oould not happen again. ' Administering the oath, in his opinion, would be a wise thing. Tho very best men would' tako it and stand to the Reserve; it would strip off the nominal members, and lie said "strip them off." - Ho would rathor see 10,000 really offective men than 30,000 merely on tho roll.. He also urged a higher »uhaci'iption foe, though th.ey could not aet tho present amount (2s. per year) paid. The ohairman agreed that they must push ■to get arms. ■ ' . The meeting appointed the officers commanding each company or corps & committee to select a District Commandant for recommendation to the Dominion Commandant and the Defence Minister. ____. Commandant and Executive. Major Tenuaut asked what position tho local executive held under tho new regulations—the Executive of Group 5, the Citizens' Executive Committee. : ,The ohn'irninn said overy unit in the group woujd have a right to have a re> presentative on the Executive Committee, whose particular, work would be to toiopcrnte with tho Military Committee in the formation of units. The executive could issue no orders or directions to the men, but would provide funds and carry on correspondence and such work in support of the Eeserve, It could make suggestions, • ■ Major Amos: Supposing tho officers wanted one thing and the civilian executive wanted another, supposing a majority of the civilian executive wanted something carried out, would they have power to enforce what they wanted P

The ohairman eaid if it referred to a military matter the oieoutive bad no power,, but it could ask; the Commandant would he there, and would- no doubt try to meet them. , They should trust their' Commandant, who would he provident of. the. executive, to seo fair play," Major Airios; When the present executive go.out of office will the staff officers go out ateo and be re-elected? Tho chairman raid he was really surprised at Major Ainos asking such.questions. The executive had nothing to do with tho staff officers, who were appointed by himself. Now, no one would havb a say in these appointments but the commandant of the district, who would send in to him a recommendation for an appointment of a staff officer. If he (Col, Tforter) felt it was a right appointment ho would recommend it.

Relation to Territorial, The question of whether returned.soldiers and Territorials who have com-' pleted their training should be included in the National' Reserve was discussed.Capt. Goldie, who raised the question, asked if it was possible that the National. Reserve "might. in .future bo made the .Reserve of the Territorial Forces. , The ohairman said this was exactly what it was now. They, were the Re : serve of the Territorials.' Territorials of from 25 to SO had not been actually formed into a reserve, but were being formed. The National Reserve under the Defence Act was now the Reserve immediately in rear.of the Territorials, and was .doing duty in all parts of the country. It had been the intention that all returned soldiers should become automatically members df the National Iteserve, and be entered. upon the lists, but the Defence Department was not going to act quite in that wayt the Department said it was going to . form a' special Reserve itself of all returned soldiers. 'That was a special Reserve. Otherwise.' the returned soldiers in every part of the Dominion should bo on the rolls of the National Reserve as active or non-active members. Captain Goldie - said the Territorial went into the Reserve at the • age of 23. He passed out. of the Territorial Reserve at the age of 80. but there was nothing to compel him to go into the National Reserve. What he wanted to get at was this: Could not tho National Reserve bo ■made the actual-Reserve of the Territorials, 'so that the Territorial' at age 25. could'pass into the National Reserve? Then the National Reserve in timo would consist of all who had been Territorials. As matters were now some of the men were allowed to- go'.on the norap-heap unless they, came into the National Reserve; there 'was nothing to force them to come in.". If ''the National- Reserve were given the privilege of becoming-the. Reserve of the, Territorials they would have to come into the National Reserve. Question of Compulsion. The Shairman considered it was a very good idea, which was well worth representing to the Defence Department. Major Tregear asked if Captain Goldie moant that when a man had served his time in the Territorials and then th the Territorial Reserve he should still be under military rule? Captain Goldie: No. His idea was 'that a-nian should come direct from the Territorials into the National Reserve at 29. 'National Reserve members would then bo given something to work for in assisting the young. Territorial, by associating with and helping him, whereas at present thoy were completely out of touch. He did not .advocate compulsion as far as keeping a man. on in military training. The chairman said he had understood Captain Goldie bofore to mention age 30. What he now 6tated altered the position somewhat, and he doubted whether the Defence . Department would meet a case of that kind. But they might issue instructions to their reserve to attach themselves to tho National Rosorvc during their five, years of service—at. all events during the war. They ought to do that because practically they were doing notliing with the men between 25 and 30. These men were barred from anything; they were not called out. to work with the Territorials, and they wero not allowed to work for tho National Reserve. " . Major' Tennant' ,regarded . Captain GoldiVs suggestion as going only halfway along a most excellent Toad. At present the companies wore extremely extenuated, and he thought-, the National Resorvo would bo doing an excellent work if they could and would dnring the currency of the war bo directly attached to the Territorial regiments. They oould fill out thoso attenuated Territorial regiments and give the men an opportunity of doing more.effective drill. Ho knew of many fompames whose drill at present was not effective, simply becanso they had not the men, to drill. ...' „, In tho Transition Stage.

■Major Newton remarked that 1 Captain Goluif's suggestion anpeared- n, good one, but there were difficulties in the way. For instance, Contain Goldie wanted the Territorial, as soon as ho had done his Territorial training, to be compelled to join the National lteorve.' That was compulsion with a vongcanco, was it not? He advocated that tho National Eesorvo' slinuld bo a purclv voluntary tiody. Tho chairman ."aid tho Department would not consent to any compulsion, but it might extend permission to any of those men in .the Keservc to attach ■ themselves to any unit of the National Reserve for training purposes. i They wero in the transition stago just now; all suggestions would be on record. ; Captain Goldie: I take it you. have no objection to our men continuing with D Battery? The ohwrnian; Jsoiie .whatsver, !XJib

only thing is tbul V Battery should not. ho 'allowed to continue with you—according to law. 1 .Uont. Runway ronnidorofl Unit ivlkmi a ninn (oft llio Tcrrilorinl .Kescrvo it would mil. be lair that hn sliouM have lo bo to tho National Iteffvn. Tho llefonw l)c])iirliiii>nt, however, might: wild Unit liiuii's Jiuitio to tliu lwiiiltiiiiu'tws of I In; Nutioiml Eosorvo, so tlnil. his imiiio could bo kept on a special rail of tho Nittionnl Reserve unit in whoso district ho resided. Such m«u enuld plenxo llioinndvos whether I hey ntteiulod drill, hut if nl; any future lime, I'hoy were wauled they uuiild he mohilificd.

The chairman.sniil tho mnller could he brought up again.' 'I'hn position, ho, thought, might lo mot if the (lovornmniu. .would allow their riwrvo mcinhers—men of from 25 lo Jffl-to nllimsh Uiimikclvps lo tho National Reserve unit nearo.il lo thorn. I

The question of assisting Iho Mayor in recruiting w.aa mentioned, but no action was takon.

Tho meeting' concluded with a hourly voto.of IhaukYlo tod. Purler and (ho singing of tho National Anthem.