HOME GUARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 173, 24 July 1941, Page 16

HOME GUARD

UNREST ALLEGED FULL EFFICIENCY NEEDED (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Claiming that there was considerable unrest and dissatisfaction in the Home Guard regarding equipment and other matters, Mr. Goosman (National, Waikato) suggested in his speech in the financial debate in the House of Representatives yesterday that the Government should appoint someone to discuss with those in charge of the Home Guard the various grievances alleged and restore the organisation to the position it should occupy. The time was long past when the Home Guard should be put on a sound footing, said Mr. Goosman The Home Guard was composed to a large extent of men of mature agy and responsibility, who were giving up their time in the country's interests.

i One of the Home Guard leaders in his district had said that unless full efficiency was reached the time training and expense put into the movement would largely be wasted enthusiasm would wane and a feeling of resentment would be created Matters on which it was felt some finality should be reached were the provision of arms, munitions and equipment, or some irlea when delivery would be made, enforcement of attendance at parades and authority to impose a penalty for non-attendance, instruction based on experience in Greece and Crete, and the relationship of the Home Guard to the army.

Mr. Goosman also criticised the necessity of Home Guard members meeting the cost of extra petrol rations granted to them, and concluded by saying that the whole position was something the Government should take in hand and try to rectifv.