MASTERTON RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8501, 2 August 1907, Page 5

MASTERTON RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

PROPOSED FORMATION OF A RESERVE CORPS.

A meeting of volunteers, exvolunteers and service-men was held in the Drill Hall, last evening, to consider the proposal to form a Reserve Corps in connection with the Masterton Rifle Volunteers- Captain Morton occupied the chair, and there was" a fairly large attendance. The Chairman gave a brief outline of the proposal. He said that in February last a set of regulations were issued by the. Defence Department, making provision for the formation of reserve corps in order to prevent ordinary volunteer corps from disbanding, which was sometimes the case in small country towns. As far as Masterton was concerned, the Volunteers could not well form a reserve corps under the regulations. The volunteer corps would not disband because they were yet too strong, and had no inclination to do so. What could be done was to form a corps consisting of ex-volunteers and service-men in the district, to be attached to the Volunteer corps. From what he had learned he believed the Defence Department would recognise such a corps. The minimum number of men in a reserve corps was thirty. Failing such a number the corps must disband. The corps would have to attend four parades a year, and must do the same class-firing as ordinary volunteer corps. The idea was to have the men efficient in shooting, and the handling of arms. After explaining various details in connection with a reserve corps, the speaker said the question was whether they could get a sufficient number of men who had seen service to form a corps of a greater strength than thirty. The Volunteers did not expect to have any control over the reserve corps, but if such a corps were formed and attached to the Volunteer corps it would be given a status, and its members would be allowed the privilege of making use of the rifle range, which at present could not be used by private individuals. In answer to questions, the Chairman explained that the reserve corps was not being formed for the purpose of acting as a "feeder", to the Volunteer corps. The object of a reserve corps was to keep old volunteers and service-men efficient, and ready to take up arms shoull they be called upon to do so. The corps could start with a small number of members. As soon as it had a strength of thirty, it would be brought under the regulatons of th— Defence Department. He suggested that those who wished to commence the scheme at once should become honorary members of the Volunteer corps, and commence the work of organisation in order to get the required strength of thirty. It was decided, on the motion of Mr H. M. Boddington, seconded by Mr H. Donald, that all those present should form themselves into a committee to further the movement, and to meet again towards the end of the month <*ncl report progress. Mr 11. M. Boddington was appointed honorary secretary oi ! the movement. The following Provisional Committee was appointed :—Messrs H. M. Boddington, H. Donald, W. J. Morris., E. L. Braggins, H. Collins, R. J. Williams, R. Jenkins, P. Beere and F. Coburn. A vote of thanks was accorded Captain Morton for the interest he had taken in the matter, and the meeting adjourned.