HOME GUARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 107, 1 November 1940, Page 9

HOME GUARD

LOCAL ACTIVITY

BERHAMPORE AREA

The Berhampore sub-committee of the Home Guard met last night, with Mr. Yates in the chair. The large attendance, included a number of men of Class I (16-18 years of age) and returned soldiers.

Mr. R. McKeen, ' M.P., emphasised the urgent need for the formation of the Home Guard, and pointed out how the international situation in the East had deteriorated to the disadvantage of New Zealand. He briefly referred to the statement on the training of the Home Guard issued by General Young, the Dominion Commander.

Lieutenant-Colonel A. Cowles, secretary and organiser of the Wellington Home Guard, also spoke and asked those present to calmly and seriously ask themselves where.their duty lay. He gave a brief outline of the scheme of training and what it implied. He further stated that the success of the scheme was in the hands of the subcommittees which were earnestly work-' ing to bring home to men the urgency of the mobilisation and training of all the man-power in the country.

In answer to questions, he stated that men would be trained in centres close to their homes and that the training would be of an interesting nature and suitable to the age and physical condition of the guardsmen. Men who were not fit for military work in the field would be posted to various units necessary to keep the civil organisations in working order. Civil servants and Corporation employees might join the Home Guard, and were encouraged to do so. They might train with their local platoons or companies, but when "the balloon went up" would be required to report to the controller of the unit formed in their respective departments.

Colonel Cowles congratulated the sub-committee on their initiative and the work done in the sub-area.