MOUNTED RIFLES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 157, 3 June 1940, Page 3

MOUNTED RIFLES

ANNUAL REUNION. The twenty-first annual reunion of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment was held in Palmerston North on Saturday night. Colonel J. H. Whyte presided oyer an attendance of nearly 250 men who served with the regiment in the last war. The only honorary members of the regiment, Mr 13. J. Jacobs, vice-president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and Mr -T. A. Nash, were associated with Colonel Whyte at the official table. The toast of “The Regiment” was proposed by Mr Nash, who mentioned that it was the regiment’s twentyfirst birthday. He congratulated members and asked Colonel Whyte to accept •a gold key to commemorate the occasion. All who had served with the regiment were proud to have belonged to it, said Colonel Whyte in reply. Although the army had now been mechanised, with tremendously increased striking power, he was one who still believed that there was important work for mounted units, .particularly in a country like New Zealand, where mounted men would be of inestimable value in guarding the coasts. Dealing with conscription, he said ihat in his opinion there were thousands of young men waiting for a lead, and the sooner it was introduced the better it would be for everyone.

Mr 13. N. Sandilands proposed the health of Mr Nash and of Mr Jacobs. The latter, in reply, outlined the policy of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in defence matters. Eight years ago, lie said, it had been decided that tiie defence of New Zealand was not a party matter. The association bad three years ago decided in favour of national universal service and- the conscription of the man-power and resources of the. Dominion. At that time it had not been wholly in agreement, but two years ago the association bad been unanimous on the question. Colonel A. S. Wilder, second in command of the Third Echelon, arrived from Trentham at this stage and was given a hearty welcome. , Colonel Whyte asked Colonel Wilder to accept a cheque from his old comrades and he asked him to convey the regiment’s best wishes and best greetings to Colonel Pearce, who is now with the New Zealand Force in Egypt. Mr George Conrad, another member of the regiment, wlio will shortly go into camp, was also presented with a cheque. Colonel Wilder thanked his former comrades for their gift. He said that if he managed to train a battalion of fighting men lie would feel that lie had achieved something. Those present accorded a vote of thanks to the Masonic Fraternity of Palmerston North for tlieir generosity in making available the ball in which the reunion was held.