oopy For.:
SATIQM
PARAPHRASE TBLBGRAM from the Governor of Fiji to the Secretary
of State for the Colonies.
Dated 18th August, 1939.   Received k.U5 a.m., 18th August, 1939.
IMPORTANT.
No, 133 Secret. -J? f*
VjLth reference to 112 New Zealand Defence Conference
Report I should "be glad to have your approval of introduction c:
legislation in Legislative Council in September to change the
title of the Fiji Defence Force to the Fiji Regiment; to
constitute the present Force at Suva to "be the First Battalion;
and to form on the north west coast of Viti Levu a Second
Battalion which will "be composed in the first instance of one
European Company at Lautoka and at Ba respectively.
(2) The extension of the compulsory training provisions
of Section U3> of Ordinance No. 3 of 1923 to Lautoka, Ba and
Nausori Townships is proposed and also submission to the
Legislative Council of question of an increase in the maximum
age for compulsory training from 22 years to 25 years - see
Section 38 of the Ordinance.
(3) The arrival of the necessary rifles and web equipment
for expanding the Force from New Zealand is expected shortly
and Major Free, P, S.C., Indian Array, has been seconded from
Hew Zealand to act as Adjutant in place of the permanent ,
Adjutant who has been medically boarded on leave.     An early
telegraphic reply would be apx>recinted.