WELL LAUNCHED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 August 1939, Page 4

WELL LAUNCHED

TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION IN MASTERTON ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT. ADDRESS BY RECRUITING OFFICER. (Ivor lil'ty citizens atleiided I he public meeting- held in i he A. ami I’. Rooms last night, when a Territorial Association was formed in Masterton. all I hose present being enrolled as members. The meetingwas addressed by Captain B. Barrington, recruiting- officer. ('eutral M ilitary I list riel, and Councillor W. White (De-puty-Mayor) presided. .Amongthe apologies for absence were those of the Mayor. Air. T. • lordan; Messrs. -J. Robertson, 31.!’.. R. Wliyborn (president of Hie Wairarapa U.S.A.). Major J. 11. Irving, Major -J. \V. Bird, Lieut. 1. Hart. Captain -I. Holmes and Captain Bringle. The meeting- was a most (mtlnisiaslic one.

Captain Barrington stated that, the appeal for volunteers had been a success. Some people seemed to be under the impression that the 17.500 Territorials was the total, including the National Reserve of our forces, bid. such was not the case. The National Military Reserve was additional to the 17.500 Territorials. The returned men had come forward and well filled the No. 2 class of the reserve, but he would like to see more applicants for the No. 1 class, that was. for men between 20 and 35 years of age with previous military training. The Masterton quota for the Territorials had been filled. There were 200 men from Masterton and the surrounding areas and that response spoke well for the youth of the district. Captain Barrington went on to state that the men were being given as much training as possible. He had been much impressed throughout the district with the keenness of the volunteers. THE CITIZENS’ PART ; They were now asking the citizens to do their~part, said Mr Barrington and organise by forming a Territorial Association. It would be necessary for some years to come to have a defence force in New Zealand and he wished to emphasise an aspect of the position. that the Territorial Association would not be a temporary organisation. They wanted the citizens to maintain their interest in the Territorials, and wanted them io look upon the Territorial forces as an important part of the community. They were the youngmen upon whom they would rely for the defence of New Zealand. Captain Barrington went on to refer to the success which had attended the formation of Territorial associations in other parts of New Zealand and said the results went to show that the associations’ activities and interest tended to raise the standards of the Territorial forces. Referring to the objects of the association, the speaker said one of its activities would be to ensure that the local units were maintained at full strength. Much could be done in the promotion of social and recreational activities by way of providing sporting gear and backing up the Territorials. At least once a year the citizens could take upon themselves the promotion of a function for the benefit of the Territorials. One objective of the association, to help members of the Territorial force to obtain leave to carry out training and attend camp, was a most important one. In the past, it had been the practice of the Territorial officer in some cases to interview employers to plead for the necessary leave to be granted, which had not always been forthcoming. It was essential to get the men into camp 100 per cent and it had been proved that a representative committee of citizens could do a lot to secure that leave. From now bn they wanted 100 per cent in camp and he did not think that was impossible. If the Territorial Association did nothing else but ensure that their men attended camp at full strength it would justify its existence, but he knew it could do more than that. The association could keep personal contact with the training being carried out by the Territorials by appointing a visiting committee to be in attendance at parades and visit them while in camp. Territorial associations were being formed throughout New Zealand and the difference in the men could be readily seen. The men were just as keen as thpy were when they joined and they were doing a good job of work, because they knew they had the backing of the community. He appealed to .those present to give that community backing lo their local men. In reply to a point raised by Mr A. W. Reynolds, it was slated that the adoption of a universal badge to be worn by all serving Territorials when in civilian clothes was under consideration. Councillor White said the association would have the full support of the Masterton Borough Council. which would do its very best to help the association along. ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED. Mr H. H. Daniell moved that a Masterton Territorial Association be foirn?d on the lines suggested by Captain Barrington. The motion was seconded by Mr J. D. O’Connor and carried unanimously. Officers were elected as follow:-— President, Mr T. Jordan; secretary. Mr C. T. O’Hara Smith; executive. Messrs H. H. Daniell. V. E. Donald and P. H. Shaw, with power to add. "At present we are in the middle ol a war scare, ’ said Colonel JI. B. Maunscll, "and if war does not come about there may be a tendency in some Quarters to a slackening oil by man? o*f the trainees. If that happened it would be a danger to us in New Zealand and to the Empire. If war docs not come this year it may come next| vear and m two years’ time we cannoli well be out of it.” He asked the men to stick to their training for three years, as untrained men were a lia-| bility’. "In 1914,” said Colonel Maun-| sell., "we were fortunate in having] nine months before we were in Biel show, but this time it may be nine] days.” The training of the men was! now of a higher standard titan ever] before, said Colonel Maunscll. It wasj absolutely necessary that the Terri-, torials should continue their training. Colonel Maunscll indicated that consul-1 eruble a.-ai-lunce could be riven :.y ■ rinding h-a to-.’ .uitoble tor Arm., put-

poses, so that the men would get the umma] of the right type.

VISIT TO BALL APPEAL FOR MORE RESERVISTS. VACANCIES IN CLASS ONE. At the invitation of the chairman of the Masterton Young Farmers’ Club. Mr Don. McGregor, Captain B. Barrington, recruiting officer. Central Military District, visited the Young Farmers’ Club Ball in the Municipal Hall last evening. In introducing Captain Barrington to those present, Mr McGregor expressed regret that the function unavoidably clashed with the meeting of citizens to form a Territorial Association. Captain Barrington expressed the appreciation of the Minister of Defence and of the Army Department of the valuable assistance which had been rendered by Young Farmers’ clubs throughout the Dominion in providing recruits for the various units. The Maslerton units had been more than filled but if any young men who were keen still desired to join they would be accepted. Captain Barrington made a special appeal to those young men present who had already completed a period of at least two years training to join Class 1 of the National Military Reserve. The'"! was still room for a large number in this class and enrolment cards could be obtained from the Defence Office or any Post Office. To the ladies present. Captain Barrington intimated that they would be able to assist the Territorial forces through the Territorial Association by supporting the social activities of the association. Il was very pleasing to know that an association of citizens had been formed with the object of encouraging and assisting the local units.