HOME DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 283, 28 November 1940, Page 10

HOME DEFENCE.

NO INFORMATION.

CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS.

About twelve months ago, writes a correspondent, "Rudderless," I was present in the council chamber of the Town Hall at a largely attended meeting called together by his Worship the Mayor for the purpose of disseminating inft rmation about the emergency precautions scheme. An elaborate series of organisation charts was presented and explained by Mr. Tyler, city engineer, but the moment the meeting got down to the practical application of the scheme and commenced to ask questions which should have called forth answers helpful to all those present his Worship peremptorily closed the proceedings on the plea that many of those present would be anxious to get away to a Rotary luncheon. I came away with the opinion that the whole meeting had been j a mere waste of time j Since then an E.P.S. booklet has been distributed to all householders, but I say without fear of challenge that very few recipients have read, and still fewer have actually made a study of this booklet. It is common knowledge that some branches of the organisation are very active—others are dead. Surely unanimity of activity and policy throughout all branches is the very keystone of a successful emergency precautions scheme. Does this unanimity exist in Auckland? Definitely not. The whole scheme as it stands at present is a farce. Yet only recently Sir Ernest Davie, head of the organisation, proudly announced that the organisation is rapidly nearing completion—the wardens will soon receive their official armlets! Disappointed at the obvious futility of the E.P.S. aj it is now being conducted, and still seeking a post in which I might find tae means of exercising my humble services In the national interest, I attended a public meeting at the Town Hall la«t evening expecting to receive information about the Home Guard. That many were of the same mind was proved by the very large audience present. Proceedings opened with a stirring speech by Major-General Young (whom I knew and respected very deeply when he was my commanding ofricet in I ranee), but while the necessity tor preparation was stressed, no actual information about the constitution and functions of the Home Guard emerged trom General Young's discourse. The Hon. Mr. Seinple then took the and delivered one of his typical addi esses--the usual outpouring of fizz and fireworks built on a framework of bathos and sonorous (albeit sadly overworked) catch phrases interlarded with cheap and futile sneers at Hitler and mki mi '« but containing not one syllable of a constructive or really informative nature in connection with the constitution and functions of the Home Guard itself, which is what the whole audience had gone to hear about. Interjections from all parts of the building which punctuated the closing stages of Mr. Semple's speech "tell us aboSt the Home Guard" made it clear that my feeling was shared very generally by those present. The Minister replied by referring seekers after information to an elusive "committee." Why did he himself let slip so golden an opportunity of putting at least skeleton details before the meeting. Perhaps the Home Guard hasn't even got a skeleton yet!

No one will deny that preparedness is the best weapon with which to meet adversity in whatever form it may arrive. Under conditions of modern warfare, effective organisation of the civilian population is of paramount importance. The public recognises this and is ready and anxious -to be organised, yet after 15 months of war we still lack definite guidance in this vitally important aspect. I appeal earnestly to those to whom we look for leadership. You are deceiving us and fooling yourselves if you think you can made a success of any of these scheme in the way you are running them now. For heaven's sake get down to brass tacks!