THE HOME GUARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 221, 18 September 1942, Page 2

THE HOME GUARD

T read with satisfaction vour subeditorial re the advisability of the S| Home Guardsmen in the vital areas being given the necessary equip- p. ment. 1 belong to a unit of the f? Home Guard formed just on two I® years ago. and our equipment so far received is a pair of boots to each Sp man. and about a dozen old rifles for fei practise. We have paraded every Sunday (except one) right througi the winter, and of course wearing out our own clothes. We are right Sv in the front line of access to Auck- ;•? land. I am absolutely disgusted with the scanty support given men of our unit for their 100 per' cent -3 loyalty. FED UP. teg - I would like to air a grievances 6S to equal sacrifice for all men. As a Home Guardsman for over S months it is very discouraging tip i# out to parade on Sundays (ear '? fourth off) and see others cufe, their lawns or preparing the kitcte.' garden (we are told to do this asi dire necessity). How does this com about. On inquiry I find a percentage are young married or singie men who have either been classel unfit for overseas or have betn exempted for essential w T ork. Why cannot they be put in a blank.file! Other single men have sheltered Launder the E.P.S. Some parade once i-» a fortnight for a lecture of not more than one hour and a half duration; Smothers parade not at all and you see both going in for some kind of sport every Sunday. There are others i. who are on "fire squad." Why not fc force these men to a do certain §JS amount of training in the Horn# g.' Guard, for as anyone knows an un- jfr. trained man is nothing short of a ; menace. Fire watching at business sfe places generally (for which some re- Igceive good money) could be done by jf~ men over 51. or even women. OXE OF THE MUGS.