KILTED REGIMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1939, Page 8

KILTED REGIMENT

FORMATION APPROVED BY GOVERNMENT

COMPANY IN EACH MAIN CENTRE. ACCESSION TO TERRITORIAL FORCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The Defence Minister (the Hon F. Jones) announced today that the Government has approved the formation of a New Zealand Scottish Regiment, thus bringing the kilt back among New Zealand troops for the first time since the various Highland units were disbanded on the disappearance of the volunteer organisation in 1910. Not only the Scottish community, but also everyone who had the welfare and efficiency of the Territorial Force at heart, Mr Jones said, would lie felt sure, welcome the revival, for the New Zealand Scottish would add five hundred first class infantry to the present strength. The new unit was to be organised.pn the basis of four companies, each with six officers and 119 man. Companies would be formed in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. !

The proposal has the unanimous and wholehearted support of the Scottish societies in the four centres concerned, and these bodies have undertaken not only to assist with the financing, but also with the actual recruiting. The uniforms cost a great deal more than the present outfit issued to Territorials and the Scottish societies have agreed to raise funds to the amount of £1 per volunteer as a contribution towards the additional outlay. Scots wishing to join will contribute an entrance fee of £1 and will be required to show Hint they ari? of Scottish descent and to .satisfy the recruiting committee that they are cf the right type required by the unit. The remainder of the considerable cost involved in purchasing uniforms and acccssorier, will bo borne by the Gcvcrnmcn Mr Jones also that die Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment had agreed to the New Zealand Scottish Regiment being allied to them | anti to their wearing the Black Watch I Tai tan. They have the distinction of j wearing a non-clan tartan, which is particularly appropriate under New Zealand conditions, where the volunteers, will be drawn from every elan.

The chairman of the Wellington Association of Scots’ Societies, Mr J. G. McKenzie, feels that the formation of a Scottish Regiment will stimulate recruiting in New Zealand and bring forth a good type of recruit who perhaps would not volunteer otherwise. "It is well known,” he said in an interview, "that in the old Volunteers days, when there were Highland units, they were always well filled. The kilt and bagpipes stimulate the national instincts in the Scottish youth,”