TOWARD THE FIRST 2000 MEN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 12

TOWARD THE FIRST 2000 MEN

Home Guard Enrolment REPORT ON PROGRESS IN WELLINGTON AREA A report submitted this week Io the mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, by the secretary-organizer of the Wellington Home Gua.tl, Colonel A. Cowles, stales that enrolments up to Januarj 31 total 17(18. This body of men is distributed among 26 sub-area units. "The sub-area committees.” the report states, "have shown commendable initiative and resource in obtaining tlie serveces of instructors in rnilitaiy subjects, and first aid, in securing parade grounds and in recruiting. It has not, yet been possible to secure arms but i am informed that these will be on issue shortly. "Several commanders have been through a refresher course at Foxton and Trentham and a further number will be sent to Trentham at an eaii.i date. The whole of Area 5 (less Hutt. Valley) is now ready for the O.C. Area to take over. "The proposal to draw personnel from the Home Guard to supplement the E.P.S. Is somewhat disturbing. At present the total enrolments for both bodies is 3538 and with further effort there is no reason why tins number should not be doubled.

Sub-area enrolments in the Home Guard up to January 31 are set out by Colonel Cowles as follows: — Berhampore. 71 ; Brooklyn-V ogelmorn, 70: Central. 02; Hnfaitai, 89; Island Bay. Obiro Bay. (53; Johnsonville 40: Kelbnrn, 52 :• Kharidallah, 7< ; Karori, 17(5: Lyall Bay-Kilbirnie. 76; Melrose and Houghton Bay. 10; Miramar. 71: Makara. 15: Newtown. 74; Ngaio, 100; Northland, 4(5; Ohnriit Valley, 24: I’abaiitanui and Pareinata, 32; Pliminerton, 24: Roseneath. 33; Seatoun. 100: Thorndou, 30: Titahi Bay, 55: Tawa Flat, 52; Wadeslowtt 57; legion of Frontiersmen 7!). Total. 1635. Not yet posted. 73. Grand total .1708. MIRAMAR SUB-AREA Miramar E.P.S. firemen paraded at the -Miramar Fire Station on Monday night ami received instruction from the brigade superintendent. A parade of the Miramar Home Guard was held last night, the local military commander. Mr. P. J. McCarthy, being in charge. A mass meeting at the Capitol .1 heat re on Sunday. February 0. at which the mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, will speak, should do much toward speeding up enrolments in the area. MELROSE DISTRICT The first parade of the MelroseHoughton Valley Home Guard was held on Monday night. 40 members attending. Sergeant Major K. Martin put the parade through a short and interesting drilli course, after which rhe unit commander issued armlets. The uext parade is eagerly awaited and will be held next Monday at Sutherland Park. Melrose, when it is hoped all Home Guardsmen and new recruits will attend. ISLAND BAY UNIT A provisional n.c.o. class was started at Monday’s parade of the Island Bay Home Guard, when there was a good attendance of enrolled members under the command of Lieutenant D. J. Gemmell. The unit: has the services of some of the local n.c.o. members of the national reserve as instructors and already the result of their experience is being reflected in the bearing of the unit on parade, Instructors from (be physical welfare and recreation branch of the internal Affairs Department have begun instruction in a series of interesting physical exercises which have the added advantage of being within the scojie of num of middle age.