DEFENCE UNITS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20023, 23 August 1939, Page 12

DEFENCE UNITS

TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION FORMATION IN GISBORNE FOSTERING- INTEREST A Gisborne Territorial Association, whose aim is to foster public interest in the local defence units, was formed in Gisborne last evening at an enthusiastic gathering of residents, representative of the various local organisations interested in defence matters.

The meeting was held in the YJMjC.A. meeting room and was presided over by Mr. F. R. -Ball. The chairman apologised for the absence of the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., who had called the -meeting, and the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. J. <H. Hall, both -of whom were engaged at a Borough Council meeting.

The chairman explained that a personal appeal had been -made -by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, to the -business men of the community to support the proposed establishment of a (territorial association in Gisborne.

The speaker said that those pres'ent might not be all of one mind on the question -of compulsory or territorial training, but that was not the concern of the meeting. (Aims of the Association

The objects of the proposed association would be; (1) Encourage citizens to take an interest in and foster respect for members of their local territorial unit in particular, and the territorial army generally, (2) Maintain the local territorial unit at full strength. (3) Render practical help to the local territorial unit by assisting in its social and recreational activities. (4) Help members of the unit to obtain leave from their employment to attend camps and other military training. (5) Maintain personal contact with the local territorial unit by arranging for representatives of the association to attend certain parades, camps, and other fixtures.

(6) Help, by the above service, to defend New Zealand. Mr. Bali said that as far as Gisborne was concerned there should be a seventh aim for the association in endeavouring to provide a hall adequate for the training of territorials.

The chairman asked Captain B. Barrington, central -military district recruiting officer, ,1o address the meeting on the subject.

Not Recruiting Campaign

•Stressing the point that the formation of the association was not to promote a recruiting campaign, Captain Barrington outlined in detail tne work.

The appeal to members of the community to play their part in the defence of the country was not only to the young men, -but to the older residents as well, and- the speaker declared that there was an important need to be filled iby territorial associations as long as a defence force remained in operation. “The young men are keen and the staff officers will make the training as interesting as possible,” said Captain Barrington, “but public opinion seemed to ibe that once a recruit was placed in uniform he became the concern of the army alone.” That was not the case, for the recruit was still tire concern of the -citizen, whose interests the territorial was prepared to defend. No matter what system of training, voluntary or compulsory, was in operation, there was still the need for the interest of the older residents. Proud of his Uniform It should foe the object, of an association to make the young man proud of his uniform. Every town took a pride in the achievements of its Rugby or other sports representatives and it was as important, if not more important, that the community should take an interest in promoting the success of its defence unit.

The possibility of arranging for relays in the case of two recruits being called up at the same time for training to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the employer of a small amount of labour was discussed. Captain Babbington pointed out that the ease applied only to the annual six-day camp and the sacrifice could not be avoided unless the recruits belonged to different units. On the motion of Dr. R. M. Gunn, seconded by Mr. L. O. East, it was decided to form the Gisiborne Territorial Association and all present agreed to become members of the association. The following officers were elected:— President, Dr. R. M. Gunn; hon. secretary, Mr. L. Barker, pro tern.; executive, Messrs. P. Gordon, C. E. Matthews, A. Steele, 11. L. Promrose, F. R. Ball and J. T. McLoughlin.

The subscription was fixed at Is and it was agreed to hold a meeting of the executive at an early date to go into ways and means of assisting the local defence units.

Before the gathering dispersed Captain Barrington presented a moving picture depicting a recent demonstration of the mechanised army at Trentham and the new Bren gun carriers that had just arrived in New Zealand.