KILTED WNITS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 18, 14 October 1937, Page 5

KILTED WNITS

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N.Z. Territorial Forces DUNEDIN SUGGESTION

(Br Telecraub-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The suggestion of the Dunedin Scottish Societies that there should be kilted units attached to the Territorial Force as a stjmulus to recruiting has been received with sympathetio interr est in defence circles here. It is recogniscd that thq kilt does possess definite value as a stimulus to Scotsmen who might be willing to serve in the territorial force if they wfere able to wear their national costume, and in poiat of fact some units already exist m whioh the kilt is employed. One such is the pipe band of the Wellington Regiment. But here it is held that it would he wise to confine the raising of the kilted units to one area for various reaBons, One, it appears, is the natural liking of soldiers for uniformity. Regimental commanders are not anxious to have three companies of their battalion in one uniform and the fourth in kilts. Also, it is held "here that there would be more chance of a kjlted corps being successful in the South Island. Aud in addition fchere is the problem of training, it being pointed out that while it may be held desirable to raise kilted units in varioua parts of the Dominion this would complicate the matter of training. If there were a kilted company in each of tbe four centres, for instance, they would never be able to do battalion drill together and would have to stop ebort of any advanced training. Alternatively, each company would have to Work as portion of another regiment and there would be no real homogenity in the kilted command. Travelling difficulties would make it impoasible to assemble the men in one placo for Kiore than au annuarcamp and this, it is felt, would att'ect the value of tho unit. _____