AUXILIARY RESERVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1940, Page 4

AUXILIARY RESERVE

MOVE IN THE WAIRARAPA AND ELSEWHERE DEFENCE OF HOME LOCALITIES. PHYSICAL TRAINING FIRST STEP. The formation of an auxiliary reserve has been decided on by the National Service Department, according to information given to the Wairarapa branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. This reserve is to comprise men who are not members of the existing forces—the Army, Navy Air Force. Territoials, or National Military Reserve. Class 11. "The function of this organisation to defend localities in which the members live and areas contiguous thereto." states a circular received by the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers’ Association from its Dominion headquarters. "Arms and equipment will be issued later, but to begin with members will parade and drill (physical exercises, etc.), under the guidance of the Army. In the event of trouble in New Zealand the Army will take control. “So that this auxiliary reserve may be established without delay, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association has been requested to submit nominations for district leaders and area leaders. Working upon the military districts (Northern, Central, and Southern) three district leaders are to be appointed. These men will be required to act in the closest concert with the officers commanding the military ' districts and should be persons of wide military experience and organising ability. Naturally, the persons nominated should have an undoubted standing in the community and ample time to give to the work involved. They will be located at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. “Sixteen area leaders will be required. These will be located at Auckland, Paeroa, Whangarei, Hamilton, Wellington, Wanganui, Gisborne, Napier, Masterton, New Plymouth, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. Those selected should have some military experience and considerable organising ability. “The positions of district and area leaders will be purely honorary, but the Government will reimburse travelling expenses. Colonel A. H. Herbert, of Eketahuna, has been nominated by the Wairarapa R.S.A. as district leader.