DEFENCE FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1942, Page 4

DEFENCE FORCES

f ORGANISATION CHANGES POSITION OF NATIONAL MILITARY RESERVE. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. ' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Minister for Defence, Mr F. Jones, in announcing changes in organisation, of the Defence forces .to meet mobilisation requirements, said that when the National Military Reserve was formed it was intended that its roie should be that cf second-line troops. The situation had since necessitated the utilisation of members of the reserve as first-line troops. “A great majority of these men are veterans of the Great War and many are now not quite up to the high physical standard required for first-line troops,” the Minister stated. “This has, already resulted in a number being medically boarded out and others have been and more will be released on account of hardship, etc. As balloted men become available, it is intended to build up all first-line units with higher-category men, and this will enable men now serving in National Reserve units, who should not for various reasons be retained in first-line units, to be transferred to the Home Guard, which in future will provide all second-line troops required. When the transfer of personnel is being made, special consideration will be given to the retention of officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers and specialists, and the changes will be made in such a manner as not to impair efficiency. When these changes have been implemented, the present National Reserve battalions and companies will no longer retain their National Reserve complexion, and the titles of the units will be ■ altered to accord with the changes. For example, the First National Reserve Battalion (Auckland) will become a battalion of the Auckland Regiment and various National Reserve companies will become independent infantry companies affiliated to a local infantry regiment.” The Minister added that the changes in designation should have a beneficial moral effect on our expanding Territorial Army, in that new battalions will be allowed to share the very fine traditions of the parent regiment. Mr Jones paid a tribute to the service and example of the National Military Reserve.