HOME GUARD FOR WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23111, 29 August 1940, Page 8

HOME GUARD FOR WEST COAST

♦ PROPOSAL APPROVED BY LOCAL BODIES ADDRESS BY MR SEMPLE fFrom Our Own Reporter] GREYMOUTH, August 28. The proposed formation of a Home Guard on the West Coast was approved by a representative meeting of local body representatives at Greymouth to-night after the Hon. R. Semple. Minister for National Service, and Mr R. Sniel, organiser for the Home Guard, had delivered addresses. The local bodies will now proceed with the necessary formalities to bring about the formation of the required battalions. The Minister said that he did not want to appear a scaremonger, but they were passing through one of the most dangerous epochs of the world’s history. “We do know we are at the cross-roads and that the right of democratic government is challenged. There are 200,U00 men, fit and able to do the work of home guards in New Zealand, and the purpose is to have them organised into battalions to defend their homes, lives, and the country in the event of an emergency arising,” The idea was to put the whole thing on a systematic footing. • “I was speaking about three nights before the raider attacked that ship and asked the question, ‘Are we safe and do you' think we are going to be left alone?’ and then such a thing occurs, almost at our own door. I had then said, ‘We will be in this mix-up before things are over' and three nights later this occurs. Whether we are in danger from raiders or fast aeroplanes and bombers nobody knows, but there is no gainsaying that New Zealand is an easy victim if it is not prepared” Properly organised and equipped New Zealand could live within itself for many months, even years, without its people starving to death. This country could defend itself. “We'have either got to put our backs to the wall and prepare for a fight or die as cowards,” the Minister concluded.