WELLINGTON AREA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1941, Page 9

WELLINGTON AREA

ENROLMENTS EXCEED 1700

PROGRESS TO DATE

Enrolments throughout the 26 subarea units at present constituting the Wellington Home Guard up to January 31 totalled 1708. This information is contained in a report submitted to the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) this week by the secretary-organiser of the Wellington Home Guard (Lieu-tenant-Colonel A. Cowles).

"The sub-ax'ea committees," the report states, "have shown commendable initiative and resource in obtaining the services of instructors in military 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 Foxlon and Trentham and a further number will be sent to Trentham at an early date. The whole of Area sx(le~ss5 x (le~ss 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 this 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- Vogelmorn, 79; Central, 92; Hataitai, 89; Island Bay, Ohiro Bay. 63; Johnsonville, 40; Kelburn, 52; Khandallah, 77; Karori, 176; Lyall Bay-Kilbirnie, 76; Melrose and Houghton Bay, 19; Miramar, 71; Makara, 15; Newtown, 74; Ngaio, 1100; Northland, 46; Ohariu Valley, 24; Pahautanui and Paremata, 32; Plimmerton, 24; Roseneath, 33; Seatoun, 100; |Thorndon, 39; Titahi Bay, 55; Tawa Flat, 32; Wadestown, 57; Legion of Frontiersmen, 79. Total, 1635. Not yet posted, 73. Grand total, 1708.

MELROSE-HOUGHTON VALLEY

The Melrose-Houghton Valley Home Guard held its first parade on Monday evening when 40 members attended. Sergeant-Ma jor K. Martin put the parade through an interesting drill course, after which the unit commander issued armlets. The next parade will be held next Monday, at /.30 p.m., at Sutherland Park, off Sutherland Crescent, Melrose, when it is hoped all Home Guardsmen and new recruits will attend.