LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 108, 31 January 1919, Page 6

WHY NO KILTED BATTALIONS? NEW ZEALAND BACKWARD. Sir,—l should like lo draw your ntf"n» (ion to the fact that New Zealand (inspite of the greater part of its population being of Scotch 'descent) was one of the only two English-speaking British Dominion; who did not have a kilted unit fighting at the front. The Canadian Expeditionary Force had many fine Highland regiments in its composition, and even the American Brigade that was formed for the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the end of 191G boasted of a battalion of M'lrenn Highlanders, who were mostly drawn from the old Scotch settlements of the State of Massachusetts. The South African Union Forces, which were represented in France by an infantry brigade, also had a killed battalion in its composition. In view of the forthcoming reorganisation of the Now Zealand Forces, I think, it should only be right thai steps should lie taken to approach ihe Defence Department for the purpose of having formed m>o or more knted battalions in the future organisation of the New, Zealand Forces. It would not bo necessary lo localise units to a town or regimental area. For example, a battalion stationed in tho Wellington Military District could have a company at, say, each, of the following towns'.-Wellington, Masterton, Wniiganui, and Hawera. Each, company could, again, have its platoone , . spi'ead out in its district without affecting its efficiency. The fact of having a. unit (spread over eiich an «itent of country would, of course, entail a great deal of travelling for tlis permanent ijtaff officers, and n.c.o.'s attached, but this could be minimised to a great extent by letting the men carry out their tripling with the Territorial units in whose districts they are stationed, and work as a, unit on mobilisation, during the anni'sl camp, as is at present carried out with most of the Territorial regimontsIn the matter of expense, a Highland regiment would certainly' cost a littlo more to clothe, but not to such i.n extent as to prevent one being .formed. The greatcoat, hat, and tunic at present on issue to tho Territorials would not need to be changed, but hose-tops and spats would be worn'in place of putties, knts and sporran in place of trousers, and belmore bonnet or glengary in place of. tho service cap. Hoping this will appeal toi the Scotcli readers.of your paper—l am, etc., •■ SCOTLAND YET.