THE HOME GUARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 9

THE HOME GUARD

COMPULSION URGED VIEWPOINT OF FARMERS By 42 votes to 22, the Auckland provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, which is sitting in Auckland, expressed the opinion that it should be made compulsory for all eligible men to join the Home Guard. It was also considered that attendance at parades should be compulsory, the granting of excuses for non-attendance to be left to the discretion of the company commander. Keen interest was taken in the discussion. A Paparoa delegate pointed out that the subject was by no means as simple as it appeared. Who. he asked, was competent to say whether or not a person, particularly an elderly man, was fit to undertake marching in formation? A delegate who bad command of a platoon in the Waikato, said it would be a heavy liability to carry on if he had to deal with undesirable elements who would be included in those men who refused to join voluntarily. The volunteers were keen and energetic and. many were potential non-commissioned "officers in the inevitable expansion of the movement. •■There are deadheads and grousers in every district who throw oft' at the volunteers, and these are no good to me,"' he said. Untrained men were likely to be an embarrassment in the event of invasion, stated another speaker. who said that the Dominion could not afford to wait for the time that would be necessary to train the class of individuals who were now standing out. Flat accusations should not be made against, men who had not joined up, said another delegate. Some of Uiesc men were .'SO miles from a centre, while others in isolated districts did not care to leave their wives unprotected. Mr. A. Briscoe Moore considered that it was impracticable to make the scheme compulsory for all, but thought, that youths from 16 to territorial age should be compelled to join up. He moved this as an amendment. The amendment was lost, also an amendment that all eligible men should ho posted to the Home Guard or K.P.S. organisations, and the motion was carried.