THE HOME GUARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 152, 9 April 1941, Page 6

THE HOME GUARD.

GRANTS BY THtE! GOVERNMENT.

QUARTERLY CAPITATION FIXED.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Following on a recent statement made by the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) to-day announced that the Government had agreed to make a capitation grant as a subsidy toward the establishment and maintenance expenses of units of the Home Guard. “The Government has agreed to meet all expenditure down to, and including, area headquarters establishments,” said,Mr Semple, “and it has also agreed to assist units by way of a capitation grant. The grant will be based on the number of men in each area who attend a minimum of 75 per cent oi the schedule parades each quarter, and will be at the rate of 2s per man for the period ended December 31 last, and thereafter at the rate of one shilling per man per quarter. The funds thug being available are intended to assist units meet such expenses as cost of transport, rental ot halls, lighting, parade grounds, stationary and other such incidental expenses. “Generally speaking it is considered that the grant should be sufficient for the purposes stated, but where individual units require additional fpnds it is expected that local bodies will pro? vide them. The method oi allocation and distribution of the grant is now being formulated and very shortly all concerned will be advised of the procedure and tlio amount due up to the end of March will be made available to individual units.