HOME GUARD’S SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 8

HOME GUARD’S SERVICE

PARLIAMENT

MEDAL SUGGESTED AS RECOGNITION *

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING PROPOSAL (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 23. The Government was considering giving tangible recognition to the services of members of the Home Guard during the war, the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) told the House of Representatives to-day in a written reply to a question asked by Mr W. H. Fortune (Opposition, Eden). Mr Jones added that ne expected it would be possible to announce the Government’s decision at an early date. Discussing this reply. Mr Fortune said the Government should give the Home Guard a little more than lip service. He had heard it suggested that the song of the Home Guard should be “The Legion of the Lost.” Mr W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui) said this was a burning question, and he appealed to the Government to give the Home Guard a ribbon in recognition of their services. “The majority of them have served in the forces elsewhere and would be proud to wear such a ribbon,” he said. Factory Hands and Watersiders Mr P. G. Connolly (Government, Dunedin Central) said he would also give a medal to farmers’ wives, nurses, and workers in munition factories and on the waterfronts.

The Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) said he regretted that the Minister of Defence was not present. If he were, the Minister would be pleased to state that the matter raised was well in hand. The question whether everybody who helped in the defence of the country one way or another should have his services recognised was a pretty wide one. He thought the idea was to recognise the services of the Home Guard by a medal. Recognition of those who served would be as wide as possible, and would include widowers, in addition to the mothers, wives, and widows of those who lost their lives in the war. Mr T. L. Macdonald (Opposition. Wallace) said great sacrifices had been made by men of the Home Guard, who trained to make themselves fit for anything that might come along. Their services should be recognised.

HOUSE-BUILDING PERMITS

SUSPENSION PENDING NATIONAL SURVEY

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 23. There was a general hold-up of house-building permits throughout New Zealand at present, but it would be of very short duration, said the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) in the House of Representatives to-day. It was to enable the Building Controller to review the whole constructional field and take stock of the materials position, with the sole purpose of relating permits issued to materials available. Th? Minister was answering an urgent question asked by Mr J. A. Roy (Opposition, Clutha). Mr. Semple said the review should make possible a more concentrated effort on housing construction. The Building Controller’s review was proceeding as rapidly as possible.

CARS FOR CABINET MINISTERS

MR WATTS ASKS QUESTION P.A.) WELLINGTON. July 23. Had the Government imported a number of American sedan cars for Ministerial and Government use? asked Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, St. Albans) in a notice of question in the House of Representatives to-day. (t so were the cars imported assembled or in knocked down condition, and would private citizens and firms be given Jcences to import similar cars? Mr Watts also wanted to know how ihe purchase of these cars could be leconciled with the Government’s expressed desire to conserve dollar funds and assist Britain's trade recovery. What number of these cars were being imported and how many had already arrived?