Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1940. THE HOME GUARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 25, 9 November 1940, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1940. THE HOME GUARD.

The part which the Home Guard is designed to play in’* the event of emergency in this Dominion should ensure adequate response to the call for members. The outline of the proposed courses of instruction shows that they are sufficiently workmanlike and divert sified to capture and hold the interest of trainees in all walks of life. Pro- ( perly organised the movement should offer opportunity for every able-bodied man to discharge some duty in the adequate meeting of conditions that may arise out of the war. It is not a question of immediate need to be met, but it is a matter of supreme importance that there should be a body of men trained to take the necessary action should need unhappily arise. Hitherto recruiting has been slow throughout the Dominion, owing largely to an unfortunate condition on the enrolment forms. Now the Government has announced its acceptance of liability for all accidents or injuries that can be established as having arisen out of membership of the Home Guard, there should be a quickening of the rate of enrolment, as the official announcement will remove the hindrance to those who have been, genuinely concerned as to personal liability in the event of mishap. The men of the Ashburton district yield to none in their patriotism. All are anxious to do something in the common task of defence. When he addresses the public meeting at Ashburton on Monday evening the Minister for National Service will find that his part is not to convince his audience of the desirability of joining the Guard, but to explain details so adequately that his hearers’ willingness may be translated without delay into action, training and preparing for dealing with an eventuality that all pray may never arise, but that it would be betrayal of all we hold dear to ignore.