DEFENCE FORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1930, Page 2

DEFENCE FORCE

GENERAL YOUNG’S WISH.

SPEECH AT REGIMENTAL

RE-UNION

■WELLINGTON, November 16,

Remark ng that his soldiering was now coming to a close, Major-General Young, G.O.'C. New Zealand Forces, when speaking at the annual reunion of the Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.E., on Saturday evening said it was his great wish to “leave a good show behind him” in the way of permanent defence forces before lie retired from his present position. “I have never been quick at putting up the 5.0.5.,” said General Young, “and I am not going to put it up yet. lif Ido though T. known there will be many who will stand by me. I am coming close to the end of my soldiering. I would like to leave a good show behind me and six or seven months ago I could have said that that was the pos'tion. I must leave behind mo a good permanent force, and if I do that then New Zealand will be all right whatever may happen. “I would like you ill your general talk,” the General concluded, “to stress that obe of the best tilings you can have, if you canilot have a territorial force, ife a good permanent forci than can get out at the soUhd of the first gun.” Refefeene to the present position of the defence forces was also made by several other speakers during the evening. / “The name you have g;ven the regiment should still be carried on,” said Colonel G. H. Hall,- ex-president of the Wellington R.S.A., when proposing the toast of “The Regiment.” It was indeed greatly to be regretted that those who had given service and had done ,so much in training in the old days now saw before them a state of affairs that would provide no adequate defence force in the future. “lif behoves us to rally round and help to make the defence scheme an efficient one in every way,” he said, adding that if he •were a young man and were able to do so he would start a comany tomorrow. The training those present and others in a similar position had gone through would be 'lost to those following on for the next ten or, fifteen years. - In reply to the toast, Colonel W. H. Cunningham, D. 5.0., .said that he was proud to assure the gathering that the territorial battalions were proud elf the traditions that had been carried on and handed down by those who hqd fought with the regiment in the war.

Among those present at the gatherin were: L ; eutenant-Colonel Avery, C.ivi.G., D. 5.0., president of the AVellingtofi ft,9. A.; Lietltefiant-Colohel Culimiigllfliil. D. 5.0.; and three of the seven Netv Zealanders who woli the V,C. In the war—Captain L. AV. Andrew and Lieutenants J, G. Grant and G, Frickleton.