THE HOME GUARD ORGANIZATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 284, 26 August 1940, Page 6

THE HOME GUARD ORGANIZATION

In his latest public reference to the organization of the Home Guard the Minister of National Service, Mr. Semple, has made clearer several matters which were previously in doubt. A report of an address given by the Minister on Monday evening last attributed to him the statement that the object of the Home Guard was “to make the best use of the huge number of men in the country, particularly in the rural areas, over 46 years of age.” Ibis—as was pointed out in The Dominion last week, and also by a correspondent —suggested that the invitation to join the new force had been limited to men above the age limit for other forms of military service.. It is satisfactory to learn that no such limitation was intended and that “all male subjects over 16 years of age who are reasonably fit may join the Home Guard as long as they are not actively attached to any of the Defence Forces.”

The announcement that a senior military officer of long experience lias been appointed Commander of the Guard will also be welcomed. Having been for six years (from 1925) G.O.C. the New Zealand Forces, Major-General Young should be able to give the organization that military status and authority without which it might have become merely a haphazard and perhaps half-hearted civilian pastime. The Commander’s task will be to prepare and supervise a system of training sufficiently disciplined and thorough to create an additional line of national defence of real potential value, and to bold the allegiance of men who have no spare time to give to mere paradings. On the other hand, it will l>c necessary to draw some distinction between Service discipline and the discipline applicable to a body of volunteers, many of whom arc busy workers in other spheres of national effort. The assignment is not an easy one. and will call for considerable tact and skill.

The initial requirement is public enthusiasm. Mr. Semple has stated that offers of service are “pouring in’’; and this being so it would seem that an outlet has been provided for a widespread urge on the part of civilian citizens to prepare themselves, physically and intellectually, for any emergency which may lie ahead of this country before world peace is won. The next necessity is for an adequatelysized and competent body of instructors. Presumably the Minister would not have embarked upon the scheme without prospect of obtaining sufficient men of the right stamp for this work, ye! the drain on skilled military instructors has been exceedingly heavy in recent months. If the assistance of veteran officers and n.c.o.’s is likely to l>e required, this should be stated without delay, and if possible arrangements should be. made for special refresher couises in instruction.