THE HOME GUARD

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23859, 30 January 1943, Page 4

THE HOME GUARD

ft ZONE COMMANDER NOT YET APPOINTED , No Home Guard zone commander has yet been appointed for Christchurch, and in the meantime the group staff set up under the former system of administration is continuing to control Christchurch units. Other units in the former group are now working under the new system. Under the new system, a zone commander is responsible for the operations and training of units in his command. Administration matters and supply, transport, and equipment are dealt with in the ordinary way by the Army area staff, obviating the need for special Home Guard personnel to attend to these duties as has been the case. Records of personnel are kept in the normal Army way. The reduction of compulsory training to eight hours a month is recognised as a great benefit to country guardsmen, but it is said by officers to have had an upsetting effect on training schedules, and has to some extent hindered the ever-present task of maintaining defensive works. The question of training has become more acute because of the arrival of new equipment, but unit commanders hope that the attendance at voluntary parades will be sufficient to enable good use to be made of this. One of the latest developments is the equipping of the Home Guard with artillery, and special courses of instruction will be held in the South Island within a few weeks. The hours of training will be increased to 24 a month in March.