THE HOME GUARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 38, 25 November 1940, Page 2

THE HOME GUARD

DEFINITION OF ITS DUTIES. A

announcement this week.

(Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 23.

“I am pleased to say that the Government has now completed the formation of measures that will constitute the functions of the Home Guard and the actual part it will be called, on to undertake in conjunction .with the armed forces for the? defence of the Dominion,” said the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) to-day. “Full information about those measures will be announced within a few days.

“The decision in this respect will conclusively demonstrate the Government’s intention to delegate to the Home Guard duties of the utmost importance, and will go a long way to allay any fears that may have existed about the movement. With the personnel already appointed to put these measures into effect, the public can rest assured that should sin emergency actually arise, New Zealand’s Home Guard will- be in a position to acquit itself as efficiently as the famous organisation in Great Britain.

“The Dominion commander (MajorGeneral R. Young) and I have just completed a tour of the South Island, and in all places ,we visited energetic and enthusiastic steps were being taken to forward the Home Guard movement. It is being actively every section of the community, and organisa-, tions such as returned soldiers’ associations, farmers’ unions, labour unions and others are assisting in the general arrangements. “As already announced by the Minister for Defence no more Class 2 units of the National Military Reserve will be formed, and those returned soldiers who have enlisted in the reserve are free to join the Home Guard. Since this announcement was made, many returned men have enrolled, and the Government is extremely gratified to know that the Home Guard will have the' benefit of their experience. “It may be stated with every confidence,” concluded the Minister, “that now the foundation of a Dominion-wide organisation has been properly laid, we can look forward within the next few weeks tq a very material increase in enrolments, and the development of a movement that will constitute a valuable function in our home defence.”