ARMY IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23985, 28 June 1943, Page 6

ARMY IN NEW ZEALAND

Reduction And New Basis HOME GUARD IN RESERVE ROLE From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 26. Tire War Cabinet has authorised a reduction in New Zealand’s mobilised Army and adjustments in the fighting services. This involves considerable relief to the Home Guard, which will be placed on a reserve basis, with limited training. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said to-day that the War Cabinet, acting on the advice of the Chief of Staff, had decided on a reduction of the mobilised Army in New Zealand and other adjustments in the fighting services to meet the changed situation in the Pacific.

“It will be remembered,” said Mr Fraser, “that on May 20 and May 21 Parliament held a secret session, when the Dominion’s Navy, Army, and Air Force commitments and activities, as well as civil defence and industrial requirements, in relation to manpower and womanpower, were fully discussed. As regards home defence, the War Cabinet has come to the conclusion that it is possible to readjust the defence plans so that a considerable reduction can be made in the mobilised Army, thus making available men required for the expansion of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and also to allow the return of other men to industries connected with our war effort. New Territorial Basis

‘‘The Army reorganisation will provide a Territorial Army, a portion of which will be mobilised, this being essential for the manning of coast and anti-aircraft artillery, administration, and the training of the Territorial Army as a whole, and also for the proper care and maintenance of the large amount of war equipment, stores, and transport vehicles. “The remainder of the Territorial Force will be held on a non-mobilised basis, the personnel being required to perform training and to be kept in a state of readiness for remobilisation should the necessity arise. "Personnel for the non-mobilised Eortion of the Territorial Army will e drawn from men in the following classes: "(a) Single men and married men without children of medical Grades 1 and 11, between the ages of 18 and 40 inclusive. “(b) Married men with not more than three children, Grades I and 11, and single men between the ages of 18 and 20 inclusive. “In selecting these men, regard will be paid to the individual circumstances of each man, including particularly (a) his availability for service in the event of emergency; (b) his availability for withdrawal from Industry for one month’s camp training per annum; and (c) his availability for periodical parades, in view of the hours worked, location, etc. "On reaching the upper age limit for service in the Territorial Army, men will be posted to the reserve and will not carry out any further training unless such is subsequently prescribed, but they will be liable to be called up for service on mobilisation, or if liable for overseas service. -.“ Th - annual obligatory training to be performed by non-mobilised personnel is to be one month in camp and twor whole-day parades each month. “Youths of 18 years of age, becoming liable for service in non-mobilised units, will be required to undergo one month’s recruit training in camp before being posted to a unit. Those who have completed one month’s camp training or six months’ Home Guard service, or such service in a secondary school cadet unit considered as equivalent to one month’s camp training, will b£ exempted from the month’s recruit training. “In Order to mairitSlftlhe mobilised section at full strength, youths will be called up for full-time home service on attaining the age of 20, Overseas Service “Personnel required for overseas service will continue to be drawn from men between the ages of 21 and 40 inclusive, and all men within these ages, whether mobilised or not. will be liable for overseas service. ."Those.not mobilised will,-of course, not be ordered into camp until they are made available to the Army by the National Service Department, i.e, after any appeals have been disposed of. , • “It is considered that the. military situation does not necessitate the present intensive training and degree of readiness of the Home Guard, and it is now possible to give considerable relief to this large body of men, who have been animated by a splendid spirit of service and have displayed great enthusiasm in their training. “It has therefore been decided that the Home Guard c i now be allotted a -reserve role as from July 1. In every respect the Home Guard will retain its identity and organisation. . ■“A reduced staff will be retained and all uniforms, personal equipment, and rifles will remain on issue to the Home Guardsmen, so that units will be ready to 1 resume full-scale training if this should be necessary. “Members of. the Home Guard will be required to attend one compulsory full day parade of six hours every quarter. At these parades rolls and equipment will be inspected and checked, the remainder of the time being devoted to the carrying out of the annual musketry course. “To encourage Home Guardsmen to Improve their shooting, an issue of ammunition will be made to units for voluntary additional range practices. “Now that training has been reduced It is desired that all units, especially In the cities and the larger towns will continue active in the interests of the national war effort in such directions as may be required from time to time, particularly in organised work for the production of foodstuffs in the forthcoming season.”