MILITARY MATTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3322, 14 September 1911, Page 2

MILITARY MATTERS.

THE EAST COAST DISTRICT. A CHAT WITH CAPTAIN SKELLEY. Captain Skelley officer in charge of the East Coast Military District arrived in Gisborne, yesterday morning and returned to Napier last evening, after transacting business connected with the work of the Posting Board, wlu«h is expected to visit Gisborne towards the end of the present month. In conversation with a “Times” reporter Captain Skelley said, that he was bore to prepare for the visit of the Posting Board, which would consist of himself as president, and Captains Whyte and: Morrison. In places where there were branches of artillery or medical corps i't was, he said, necessary that an officer of these branches of the service should be a member of the. Board, but as there were neither of the named corps in Gisborne, it was not necessary that such officers should be on the Boardi during its visit here. The total number of registrations at the time of closing, namely, 6949, indicate. that there is likely to be an over-establishment of companies throughout the area, and large numbers of transferees from other, districts were coming into the East Coast group. Captain Skelley went on to point out that under the regulations none of those who were called upon to serve would be leaving their companies for four years, and during all that time younger 'men would be becoming available. There was, however, likely to be a large number of men found unfit for service, and he wished it to be understood that in this case there need be no implication that a man was not in a healthy state. A man might .be perfectly sound so far as his body was concerned, but at the same time be defective in hearing or sight, and this was likely to render him unfit to serve. The Department would, of course, be very pleased to see such men join rifle clubs, and they would accordingly supply rifles under the conditions obtaining at present, together with the 200 rounds of ammunition for practice.

The whole of the men in every company, and those not yet posted,. will be carefully gone through, and it is likely that, in the light of the regulation standard of physique required, a fair number will be rejected from the combatant branches of the service. In conclusion Captain Skelley said that a stores department was shortly to he opened at Napier, whence all uniforms and accoutrements will be supplied from. Orders are to be issued at an early date for the return of all arms and accoutrements to the departmental stores. Those will bo thoroughly examined and tested, and those found to be in good condition will be reissued simultaneously with the delivery of arms to the newly constructed companies.