APPOINTED TO RESERVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1939, Page 7

APPOINTED TO RESERVE

THREE RETIRED COLONELS. DEFENCE MANIFESTO RECALLED. (Uy Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The appointments to the reserve of officers of the New Zealand Military Forces of Colonel R. F. Gambrill. V.D.. Colonel N. L. Mackv, M.C.. and Colonel A. 3. Wilder. D. 5.0.. M.C.. V.D.. are included In a long list of appointments gazetted last evening. These three officers in association with the late Colonel C. R. Spragg, were posted to the retired list last year after the issuing of a manifesto on May 18. in which they expressed me view that a statement on defence, made at Dargaville by the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones was inadequate. The manifesto alleged that the organisation and establishment of the territorial force at that time was insufficient for the defence of the Dominion. The colonels said they had issued the manifesto solely to ensure that an adequate and sufficient land force should be available for the defence of New Zealand. Subsequently they relinquished their appointments as honorary aides-de-camp to his Excellency the GovernorGeneral.

Speaking at Dunedin on October 1, Mr Jones quoted an opinion on the matter by the Judge Advocate-General of the Forces, Colonel C. H. Weston. K.C. that: “The action was taken by the Chief of the General Staff, MajorGeneral J. E. Duigan. entirely on his own initiative as a disciplinary measure. and that the Government had nothing to do with it."