LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1920, Page 6

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. OPENED AT NEW PLYMOUTH. YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The annual Dominion Conference of the Legion of Frontiersmen was openei in the Foresters' Hall, New Plymouth, 'yesterday morning. Staff-Captain J. McGregor (Hamilton), Dominion president, occupied the chair and the following delegates were also present: E. McGregor (Headquarters), A. S. Fordyce (Headquarters secretary), C. H. Weston and C. C. Gilbert (New Plymouth), F. Jones (Okato), J. AY. Laing (Waitara), S. A. Campbell (Egmont Village, W. McKenzie (Waitara), T. H. Lee (Okoke;, L. Rattenbury (Urenui), D. G. Rowe (Okau), J. A. Jones (Awakino), G Soffe (Waitara), M. Hill (Puniho), f. H' Mellar (Waitara), L. W. Kirkby (Uruti), A. Street (New Plymouth), G. Allardyce (Puniho), W- A. Morton (New Plymouth), T. Blair (Mahoenu'i), H Sampson (Bell Block), G. Goldsworthy (New Plymouth), J. Elliott (Opotiki), R. H. Hart (Hamilton), F. L. Gill (Okato), A. Klee (Stratford), J. A. Miller (Hastings), C. Braik (Hastings), E. J. McGregor (Hamilton), G. A. Pugh (New Plymouth), F. G. Carson (Mastertonl, A. H. Hardie (Wanganui), W. Brechin (Gisborne), 0 White (Gisborne), H. Sumner (New Plymouth), C. Boultin New Plymouth), 0. R. Davis (New Plymouth), T. Hitchins (Opotiki), G. McGrath (Waitara), and T. Merlin Winiki (Stratford), G. L. Bacon and L. Klee (Whangamomona). WELCOME TO THE DELEGATESColonel Weston, on behalf of the Taranaki Squadron, welcomed the deligates and visitors to New Plymouth. The Taranaki Squadron felt honored to have the conference in New Plymouth, and hoped that the delegates would go away with very pleasant recollections of their stay in the town. The Returned Soldiers' Club and the Taranaki Club had extended an invitation to the delegates to make use of their rogms while in New Plymouth. On Friday, added Colonel Weston, it was proposed, if the weather improved, to take the delegates for a trip up the mountain. The members of the Taranaki Squadron hoped that the delegates would enjoy their stay and go away after the conference with the intention of coming back again. (Applause). Captain McGregor replied, expressing his appreciation of the welcome extended to them by the Taranaki Squadron. It was 27 years since he had last been in New Plymouth, and it had progressed so much in that time that he hardly knew it again. SQUADRON REPORTS. Squadron reports were received and adopted from the following:—C Squadron (Poverty Bay), D (Waikato), G (Wanganui), H (Heretaunga), J. Opotiki), K (Wairarapa), L (Taranaki). The reports generally indicated that the Squadrons were on a sound footing throughout the North Island, although there was an indisposition on the part of some of the members returned from active service to attend drill. For this reason some of the units had suspended drills, confining their activities mainly to the social sphere. In regard to the report from the Wanganui Squadron a sub-committee was appointed to confer with the delegates from Wanganui, with a view to one organisation of the Squadron. STAFF- CAPTAIN'S REPORT. Staff-Captain McGregor, in the course of his report upon the work of the Legion during the past year, said that the scheme upon which the committee decided to organise the Legion consisted mainly in the establishment of units or squadrons in the principal centres of the Dominion, with smaller sections where possible, self-controlled in the main, yet formnig integral parts of units. The provincial districts were to be directed by provincial organisers, and the whole Legion was to be controlled by the Staff-Captain. With this in view the secretary was instructed to form a roll of the Legion and to carry out the main details of organising. Hi's efforts to obtain a roll by the end of 1919 proved fruitless, and so far the results of his work fell far short of what was expected. At the present time a complete roll of the Legionaries in New Zealand did not exist, nor were half the members listed. He would like to congratulate Taranaki on the results of the work of Legion-Captain C. H. Weston, D.SJ)., who had evidently brought to the i/egion that same force which carried him through so much active service. The units in Taranaki were well organised and seemed a power in the land. In the rest of the Dominion things seemed to be going from bad to worse, and the Legion was suffering through this apparent ineptitude. Early in his year of office, added the Staff-Captain, he approached the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence with the idea of obtaining recognition for the Legion, and of providing facilities for the supply of arms and ammunition. His personal interviews with these gentlemen, and the interviews which' Mr. Evan McGregor also made, had left but one idea in their minds, namely, that the virtues of the Legion were fully known throughout the Dominion, particularly amongst the people most in touch with the military. Yet it was next to impossible to get the Government to accede to the Legion's proposals for recognition unless they were prepared to forego their integrity as Legion of Frontiersmen. This was a matter which must be decided at the conference, and it brought up another subject which would also form, part of their deliberations. He referred to the aims and objects of the organisation. He believed it was possible to form a group of Rifle Clubs and to benefit to the same extent as existing clubs do, Mit the question was, would they thereby carry out the spirit of the Legion? It was his opinion that they would not, and he was not prepared to accept an alternative without the sanction of a representative body of Frontiersmen. Regarding the question of uniforms, the Staff-Captain said it was recognised generally that the Legion would benefit greatly by parading in the Legion uniform. Shortly after the previous conference he ayproached the various manufacturing firms regarding the supply of khaki, and was told that khaki was unprocurable. He had recently applied again, but with equal failure. It was with feelings of regret that he reefrred to the syste mof registration which was in vogue with the Legion ; Headquarters, for he was well aware | that it had given cause for much bitter flOfflniiak net to "mention gomplaint, M

present they in New Zealand were registered at the headquarters in London, and all applications sent to Mm had to. be sent to London before badges could be supplied. At the last conference Captain d'tfiterre spoke of a supplv of badges which were expected to arrive at any time. Had these badges arrived in Lime much good would have been done. The badges had not yet arrived, and many applications had been held over in anticipation of. their arrival. In May last the Dominion was honored by the visit of His Royal' Highness the Prince of Wales, and he took upon himself the duty of presenting to His Royal Highness the greetings of all loyal Frontiersmen in New Zealand. This was made in the form of a very handsome illuminated address, bound in album form. The work was carried out by Mr. J. Morau, of Auckland, and it reflected the greatest credit on the artist. Gentlemen fully qualified to criticise stated that the Prince was not receiving better presentations in any other -district. The presentation was made in Hamilton, and .the Legion in the Waikato turned out to witness it. Speaking of future work, the StaffCaptain said that the Legion had always had great possibilities before it. In reviewing the past year he was struck by the great lack of co-operation throughout the Legion. The trouble seemed to be -general, and he had evidence from outside units as well as in the Waikato Squadron that the Legion w,as threatened with temporary paralysis. The remedy, he considered was to be found in a pooling of their brains, energy, resources and enthusiasm in the greatest "spring-cleaning" ever undertaken. This was the iast before the conference. As an aid to the rejuvenation of the Legion, he suggested a Legion shooting match for teams drawn from every' country in which the Legion of Frontiersmen was represented. The formation of a National Defence League had been . gazetted in the Hpminion, and one of the League's delegates would address the conference. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £SO 5s Cd and the expenditure £25 16s 9d, leaving a balance of £24 Ss 9d. The assets amounted to £24 8s 9d, and the liabilities to £25, being the cost of the address presented to the Prince of Wales. THE DISCUSSION. Captain T. Hitchins, in moving the adoption of the report, commented on (the suggestion that a shooting cup should be provided, for competition amongst the various units, and expressed the opinion that the delegates should start the scheme at once and raise a subscription for the purchase of a cup called the Conference Cup, which should be fired for at eacli conference. This, he believed, would do much to increase interest in the Legion. Frontiersman K. H. Hart seconded the motion, which was carried. The secretary read a copy of the address which the Legion presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales a}. Hamilton, and also the Prince's reply. The secretary gave a verbal account of r his work during the year. The report was adopted. After the luncheon adjournment the conference assembled in the Soldiers' Club, King Street, A long discussion took place regarding the position of the staff-captain, which some delegates contended should be open for election annually. Staff-Captain McGregor placed his resignation in the hands of the meeting, but stated that he would consent to re-nomination. It was decided that an election should be held the following morning. The secretary (Frontiersman Fordyce) voluntarily offered to foregp his salary, in view of the unsatisfactory state of the Legion's finances. The conference decided to grant the secretary an honorarium of £SO, the amount to be borne pro rata by the various squadrons. The secretary gave a detailed description of the address presented to the Prince of W T alcs. The conference then considered the remits. x LADIES' BADGES. Captain Hitchins (Opotiki) moved: "That the present badge have a pin affixed in the form of a brooch to be worn by lady members." The chairman explained that the remit was not in order, because, according to the constitution, the badge could not be worn by ladies. Steps had, however, been taken to provide a special ladies' badge. The remit accordingly lapsed. UNIFORMS. Captain Hitchins moved: "That the Legion stand by its decision of the last conference to adopt the uniform of the Australian. Light Horse." Lieut. Goldsworthy moved as an amendment: "That the matter IJ of uniforms be left over until next conference." The amendment was carried. The chairman explained that the resolution meant that the question of uniforms would be held up for twelve months. After discussion it was decided to recommit the resolution. Lieut. Hardie moved: "That all previous resolutions in regard to uniforms he rescinded." He explained that this would wipe out everything and they could start afresh. The motion was carried. Lieut. Goldsworthy then moved: "That the present uniform be continued, with the addition of the. burnishers as worn by our late chief."—Lieut. J. A. Miller seconded. Frontiersman A. S. Fordyce moved as an amendment: "That the Legion adopt the New Zealand tentorial .uniform, to be worn with distinctive puggary, preferably green."—Frontiersman E. J. McGregor seconded. Lieut. Goldsworthy was given permission to add to his motion the words: "and no alteration be made until instructions are received from London headquarters." During the discussion some speakers contended that the adoption of the territorial uniform would be the thin end of the wedge to the Government taking over the .Legion and the Legion losin" its individuality. The amendment was then put and defeated by a large majority. Lieut. Miller moved as a further amendment:'"That the uniform of the Australian Light Horse be adopted by the Legion."—Captain Hitchins seconded. After discussion Lieut. Miller withdrew his amendment, and Lieut. Goldsworthy further amended his motion to read: "That the present uniform be; adopted with the addition of a Norfolk jacket." This was carried unanimously.. THE PASS WORD. It was moved by Captain Hitchins (Opotiki): "That &he password and sign be taken mo™ seriously by the Legion, and especially by members travelling" The mover eaid there were quite a large number «| ftrsoßg wearing th*

budge who had been challenged in his district, and on no occasion hnd the word or counter-sign been given. Ho suggested that in future the names of members wearing a badge and not in possession of the pass-word be reported to their squadron. Frontiersman Fordyce moved as an amendment: "That the previous decision to have a counter-sign and pass word be rescinded, and that in future a pass word only be retained." The amendment was lost, and the motion carried. GISBORNE REMITS. Frontiersman A. Law (Gisborne) moved: "That each squadron area be split up into groups, and that the men of each group arrange their own times of parada and dates for special training. Training to be carried out according to each squadron headquarters."—Carried. "That the old L.F. forms, providing only classes A., B. and C. being more suitable, be adhered to" —Carried. A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE. v Frontiersman Carson moved, on behalf of "K" squadron (Wairarapa): "That F. W. Rummer's re-instatement be discussed on the grounds that he is entitled to it, his brother being a returned soldier, and his sister having served for three and a half years in various theatres of war." The mover gave a detailed account of the splendid record of Mr. Kummer and his family during the war. The Staff-Captain said that it was *. question of principle, and the Legion was unable to accept into membership anyone who was not British. But it seemed to him that although Mr. Kummer was of German birth he was a British subject, and as British as any man could be The motion was carried unanimously. ADMISSION OF MAORIS. Some discussion ensued on a remit: "That Maoris be eligible for election as members." The chairman said that the resolution came up at every conference, and was always defeated. A half-caste Maori delegate made a spirited appeal on behalf of the Maoris. He challenged the delegates to say that Maoris were not British, and contended that as the Maoris had put up a splendid record at the war and were British subjects, they should be eligible for membership in the Legion. Frontiersman E. J. McGregor moved; "That all Maoris be eligible for admission into the Legion in New Zealand." The motion was carried by 25 votes to 5, several delegates abstaining from voting. At 5.45 p.m. the conference adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day.