LIVELIER INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 37, 13 February 1941, Page 7

LIVELIER INTEREST

HOME GUARD ACTIVITY

A sharp rise has taken place lately in Home Guard enrolments in sonic districts of the Wellington area. This can be attributed partly to the fact that the district organisations are now well beyond the preliminary stages in having their establishments built up to requirements. A greater appreciation of the need for service is also a reason, as is the break from the "holiday period. There has been a rush of enlistments at Karori this week, and this district's Home and Civil Guard strength has been taken beyond the 300 mark. Training and campaigning are being combined in the holding of a special parade this evening. The three Home Guard companies and tbe E.P.S. units are to march through the district, headed by the band of the Wellington Regiment. Those taking part in the route march are to assemble at 7 o'clock, and proceed to a point in Standen Street, from where the route march —to Karori Park and back, a detour being made at Beauchamp Street —will commence. Lieutenant D. G. Ball will have charge of the parade. Should the march be cancelled, instructional courses will be held at tlie school, a full muster being desired.

Island Bay.— The recently formed n.c.o. class of the Island Bay Home Guard held its weekly instruction parade on Monday, evening. There was a full attendance. The Island Bay unit is fortunate in having the services of several qualified instructors, but as time goes on the unit will be required to provide its own instructors and the men now being trained will have to carry on the work of training the unit. The regular parade night is Thursday at the school grounds at 7 p.m. At present the roll strength is approximately two platoons, but the immediate objective is at least a full company, and therefore more members are urgently required.

Berhampore. — The Berhampore Home Guard unit paraded last night and was inspected by the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), who complimented the men on their bearing and drill. He referred particularly to the good work done by the sergeant major, Mr. Hutchinson, in increasing the efficiency of the unit. The parade was in charge of the commander, Mr. Clayton'.

Newtown. —The Newtown Home Guard unit now has a strength of 125. Regular parades are held on Thursday evenings at ' St. Anne's School, Green Street. The instructors' class meets at Newtown Library on Tuesday evenings. A large increase in membership is expected.

Roseneath and Oriental Bay. —Parades of the Roseneath and Oriental Bay Home Guard are now being held on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 2.30 p.m. at the Roseneath School. For both the Home Guard and the E.P.S., recruits are needed, and an appeal is made to.residents in the district.

Titahi Bay.— The Titahi Bay Home Guard was active during last weekend. The main unit had a field reconnaissance on Saturday, covering local territory- Keen interest was shown by the local guardsmen, of whom 60 per cent, paraded. The Maori section held platoon drill. Titahi Bay has close on 100 on the roll, ' counting Home Guards and E.P.S. units.

Melrose - Houghton Bay. — Many new recruits were enrolled at the second parade ot the Melrose-Hough-ton Bay Home Guard unit. On Saturday night the. unit will march to the Kilbirnie Kinema where they will be addressed by the Minister of National Service (Mr. Semple).

Kelburn. —The Kelburn sub-unit of the Home Guard now contains 70 effective trainees—an increase of. 10 enrolments in the past 10 days.

DIVISION INTO AGE GROUPS

A new system of classification of the Home Guard is being introduced into certain sub-area companies. Instead of continuing • training as at present, the guardsmen are to be divided into age groups. It is believed that,, this change will • faciliate training and enable the younger and more active men to follow a more intensive syllabus. _■ V