NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2991, 31 January 1917, Page 7

NATIONAL RESERVE

1 ——+-~: " DOMINION RALLY. February 14 next will be an important; day in .the general.aifairs oi the National Koservo throughout -the Dominion, the governing council having been convened to assemble iu Wellington, to consider matters of importanco affecting the welfare of tho lteserve. The' personnel of c the" council constituted under tho Defence Act and Regulations, 1915-16, are:—President, Colonel Porter, Dominion Commandant N.R., District Commandants : Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson (acting), (Auckland), Lieutonant-Colonel Brandon (Wellington), . Lieutenant Colonel Dougall (Canterbury), Lieutenant-Col-onel Stoneham, V.D. (Otngo), Lieuten-ant-Colonel Henderson, V.D. (Southland)'" Liouteiiant-Colonel Rogers, V.D. (Mariborough)," : ' Lieutenant - Colonel Ching " (Nelson), , LieufcenantColonel Troup (Railway- Engineers Division), and ' Doctor / Platts-MiUs (es-olficio member, ■'Women's-NCR.).. Tlio several officers'commanding groups have also .been invited to attend, therefore, a ■■fullrepresentation of tho Reserve by experienced officers is assured. The subjects for consideration are of great interest, and have bearing on • the continued, administration of the Reserve throughout the Dominion. Tho results of the deliberation will be submitted to the Hon. Minister of Defence. . ■ ' At a meeting of the Wellington District Headquarters Committee/ held on ■ 'January 26;~it"was deemixt'v'dh&tv tld| 'assembling of- the council on' February 14 afforded a very, occasion for calling a rally of;the'National Reserve members past and present in tho Wellington city and suburbs of Group 5, the total'strength of which last year was 2834. It was resolved that an entertainment be given at the Town' Hall on' tho light of February 14, and that : other ■ patriotic organisations be asked to coroperate in the rally. .The following joint committee was appointed to carry out the details. Patriotic Society, Messrs. T. M. Wilford, M.P., Joseph .Lewis, and E. J.-Collio; Women's National Reserve, Doctor PlattsMills (president); Reserve, Captains M'Leod and Grant, and Mr. A...Forest. The joint committee subsequently met,'.and requested Mr. Wilford to deliver. another of his war lectures up to date of the latest developments. This .request was willing acceded to, and will.be the principal item on the night of the rally. Mr. Joseph Lewis was appointed secretary of the joint - committee.- The Commandant will call upon all ex or present mem-, hers of tho Reserve to wear their badges specially for tho occasion, and the active armed units will be directed to parade and march to the Town Hall headed by the Headquarters Tramway's Band. It h expected that tho several District Commandants will be present, and that some announcement will be made of the council's decisions. The proceeds of tho entertainment will bo contributed to the maintenance fund of the Wellington group units. _ The Reserve has been in actual existence for two years,. entirely dependent upon small annual subscriptions of two shillings per member. From these subI'Scnptions the expenses of rentsj stationery, .printing, and advertising have had ito be defrayed. Tho administrative staff throughout the Dominion have served without pay or allowancesof any kind. It. was-stated that the Dofence Department, from tEe date of ■the inception of the Ro'servo in January, 1915, has not in any way financially or by concession assisted the . Reserve. This want of appreciation is much felt by the citizens^ comprising, .the home defence organisation.