THE HOME GUARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 250, 4 August 1941, Page 7

THE HOME GUARD

. VITAL PART )N DEFENCE. FULL EQUIPMENT AIMED AT. (P.A.) "WELLINGTON, August 2. “In Britain, the Home Guard has become an integral part of the defence system and there is no reason why we in New 7 Zealand should not place equal reliance on the New Zealand, body in. our home defence organisation. That at any rate is ,what I plan to do,” stated the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) to-day. The Minister said we could not in New 7 Zealand afford to disrupt our economic life by maintaining a large standing army but we could, if citizens continued to give their time, train a fine body of men who would be available at a moment’s notice. “The time to prepare is not when the country is threatened but now 7 while there is an opportunity to plan and train and practice against the day when the service of the Borne Guard may be needed. The task ahead is not an easy one and demands for equipment are very great but we have already made a start in issuing a share of equipment to the Home Guard arid I would like to assure its members of this progress at an ever accelerating rate. I know I shall receive the same valuable co-operation and assistance in my administration as that accorded to my predecessor and I will do all I can to hasten the time when every member of the Home Guard will be fully equipped and fully, trained to discharge his important duties. “As the war continues and as more and more men go overseas the responsibilities of this body for _ the defence of New 7 Zealand will continue to grow 7 and it is good to know there are so many _ thousands of patriotic citizens who' are willing to devote their spare time to prepare, themselves against the day whfen their active services may be needed. We can. profit by the example of the Home Guard in Britain, which has proved its worth in a. manner that has confounded its sceptical critics.”