HOME GUARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 172, 23 July 1941, Page 5

HOME GUARD

PROTEST AT PARADE 1 '■\ CRITICISM BY MINISTER Arising out of a statement made on Monday by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Sernple, about the future of the Home Guard, and Ws remarks concerning Colonel M. Aldred, of Waiuku, commander for the Auckland district, a resolution of! Protest was carried at a parade of H5 Remuera guardsmen last night, with one dissentient. The resolution Wa s as follows: "This meeting of the Remuera Home Guard regrets the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Sernple, should have seen fit to make disparaging remarks concerning Colonel M. Aldred, Auckland district commander of the Home Guard, and considers this attack upon a worthy and nighly-placed officer was entirely unw.a, nted - Attacks made by Mr. vrml ple °, n Colonel Aldred. an officer 2 a distinguished record in the rw' a ? d ear lier upon Mr. H. J. Buttrni ir chairman of the Auckland Cen- £ ♦v?° me Guai 'd Committee, because Wn,i£ e £ effor ts to encourage the S™ 1 . e Guard, are proving very detrimental to the well-being of the Guard a "° , ar . e discouraging the men who titi, dolnß their du tv verv ably and \ltJ}. OU c any assistance from the Minster of National Service. The meet-! attL£ Xp L esses the hope that such ani? r 3 the Minister will cease. attLi onsiders that such unprovoked mSri!u ar ?, a fu rther reason to retXi he Home Guard from the DeEPvJ 11 °, f National Service and Place it under Army control." u Tone Resented Mr G M ar o S ?? en at Pukekohe," said c T ampbell. secretary of the uKeKohe Home Guard Committee, on Ih! tate^ ent issued to the Press Wad ♦u sub:,ect ' " were astounded to! Colnnii e *,^ em , arks of Mr. Semple.l rSSrd 1 in A M had a distinguished 'iS n ,he Great Wa r. and. at tre.juiuous personal sacrifice, has given

arduous and devoted service to the Home Guard movement. The progress made in his area is in no small measure due to his efforts. "I have been in touch with members of my committee, and they bitterly resent the tone of the remarks of the Minister. The committee feels that all guardsmen in New Zealand will support them in making an emphatic protest. Whether the colonel was indiscreet in making the ! remarks that he did about the future |of the Home Guard is not the point at issue, and is in any case debatable."