THE TERRITORIALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3266, 11 July 1911, Page 7

THE TERRITORIALS.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS’

CLUB.

THE INAUGURAL MEETING.

The inaugural meeting of the Gisborne District Non-commissioned Officers’ >Glub was held in the Garrison Hall last evening. There was a good attendance of non-commissioned officers and Staff-Sergeant Major Bishop occupied the chair.: "

Rules very much on the same lines as those of similar institutions elsewhere were submitted and .adopted, chief among these being as follow: “The name of the Club shall be ‘The Gisborne District Non-Oommissioned Officers’ Club,” and its objects shall be the advancement in military knowledge and good fellowship among non-coms.” “All non-commissioned officers of the Permanent Staff shall be eligible -as members of the Club_and may at their discretion allow non-coms, of the general training section and senior cadets to become 1 members.”

Other rules dealing with the election of officers, special meetings, subscriptions. and contingencies that may arise are also included. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Staff-Sergeant Major Bishop; vice-presidents, Sergt. McCullough and Cblor-Sergt. Rait; secretary and treasurer, Corporal McLean ; auditor. Corporal Malone; committee, President, vice-presidents, secretary and treasurer, Sergt. Coleman, Quartermaster Sergt. Fairlie, Sergt. Hunter and Corporal Beere. A hearty vote of thanks to Staff-Sergt Major Bishop for the way in which ho had interested himself in the movement and for presiding a.t the meeting concluded the business.

KEEPING THE RECORDS.

TWO NEW BOOKS

Copies have been received in Gisborne of the “Personal Record Book,” wmen is to be the property of the registered holder undergoing military training, and the “Duplicate Record Book,” which is to he the property of the Defence Department.These books are to contain the record of the military training, performed by tlie holder from the time of registration to the time of his final discharge, taking in subsequent war service, if any is performed, and will be considered legal proof that the required training has been performed. In the preface the holder is urged to preserve the boon even after he has ceased to be liable for training or service. Every registered holder is bound to inform his company commander, or the officer under whose command he is serving, of any change or intended cliange of residence or postal address, and such changes will duly be entered in the book. Should the book be lost tbe fact must be reported at once. Entries in the book shall be made only by authorised officers. After dealing with the length of time during which the holder is obliged to be trained, and enumerating the penalties for offences under the Act, a page is set aside in the book for a replica of the registration form of the holder. Thereafter come in order the medical examination, enrolment in senior cadets, and exemptions from service in that branch of the service. On the page allotted' to the last named are spaces for the dates from and to which exemption is applied for, the reasons for exemption. and the signature of the officer authorised to grant exemption. Following this are pages which will give full information of the medical record, transfers, training performed, arms and accoutrements issued and icturned, clothing issued and returned, inspection of arms, charges for loss of or damage through personal neglect to arms, accoutrements and clothing, and promotions, appointments, etc. during senior cadet service. The holder then enters the territorial service, and a similar record to That kept during his term as a senior cadet is kept right through his training in this section. In addition details will be entered at the close of the holder’s term in the territorials- as to his skill at arms and lesults of examinations for promotion, appointments, reversions, decorations, etc., during service in the territorial force. Passing on, the book will deal with training performed in the reserve, a record of Avar service, and closes with a certificate of completion of service. That this system of recording a youth’s and man’s service will in time become a most valuable institution there can be no doubt, but one thing is certain, that the keeping of the record will entail a great deal of labor on the part of the officers.