WOMEN MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 3

WOMEN MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE

* MEMBERSHIP OF TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION The objection that any such move would oblige the association to admit members of women’s auxiliary services was raised at a meeting of the executive of the Territorial Association of Canterbury last evening, when the secretary, Mr C. V. Quigley, moved that members of the Home Guard should be catered for by the association. The motion, which called for an alteration in the rules, was finally withdrawn. Colonel R. B. Smythe said that it would be a very big undertaking for the organisation to alter its rules to include Home Guard members. The Home Guard was going to be a very big force, and would doubtless have as many supporters as the Territorial Force had. “We might find that we had taken on too big a job," he said. “It. might be advisable for the Home Guard to have an organisation similar to this one.” Mr T. M. Charters said it was very difficult at this stage to assess the wants of the Home Guard. The matter, he thought, could best be left to the Home Guard itself. The Manpower Committee made no distinction between the Home Guard or any of the other emergency precautions organisations, said Mr J. S. Barnett, and by admitting the Home Guard the association might find that it had undertaken an obligation to all of the other organisations, including the women’s auxiliary forces. “This association is doing a vast amount of useful work, and if it keeps on on its present lines, it will become increasingly useful to the territorials.” “It would be a full-time job," said Colonel J. Murphy, “I am not in favour of it." The motion, which Mr Quigley originally asked should go forward to the annual meeting from the executive, was withdrawn.