CONCERN FELT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1941, Page 4

CONCERN FELT

HOME GUARD UNITS

DWINDLING ATTENDANCES

WHAT IS THE REASON?

For all the months of striving to have the Home Guard placed on a thoroughly workmanlike footing: ; the results in many cases are disappointing. Units now find themselves in a position which, for those doing their best, is not only disappointing but disturbing. Attendances at parades have fallen off appreciably, and there is general concern as to the reason for this. Certain difficulties with which units have been faced in carrying out their training have been suggested as a cause of dwindling attendances, more pronounced with some units than with others, but generally there has been sufficient enthusiasm to overcome the handicaps as they .^rise. Marked keenness is still evident, though the percentage showing it could be, and, it is felt, should be a great deal higher. CLOTHING NEEDS. In some respects, however, breaking point has been reached. Men have exhausted their own supplies of clothing and boots suitable for their work as Home Guardsmen, and are now marking time until the promised official issue.. The stimulating effect of wants being supplied officially has been shown in the issue of boots which has already been made, but there are still many men to experience that relief. Concern over the whole position has led to discussions amongst those responsible for the well-being of the units. The need of clothing, particularly working dress for field exercises, was stressed by some leading local Home Guardsmen in considering the causes of the drift which, to them, was becoming somewhat; alarming. "We find now," said one, "that there are men who cannot parade as they have used up their clothing^ The lack of certain essentials simply means a lack of reality." OFFICIAL INTEREST. Complaint was made that interest shown by the Government appeared to have diminished and that the public was not informed nearly so well as previously on matters relating to the Home Guard. "The lack of official interest makes one wonder," remarked a prominent member, "why all this time should be put in by us in endeavouring to have the units fitted for such tasks as they might have to perform. That, too, raises the question as to why, since the Army took over the Home Guard, not one unit in Wellington, except Hutt, has seen an Army officer in his official capacity." '". It was pointed out in this discussion that, although the Army took over three months ago, the only result that had been seen was "the supply of a few more boots and the appointments of. commanders as majors." As for tasks, it was considered that) the definition of the particular tasks j for- the individual battalions had an important bearing upon interest and keenness, and the absence of that definition was being felt. WHAT OF COMPULSION? On the question of making attendances compulsory opinions appeared to be divided. This matter is one of many being widely discussed. A report from Auckland states that attendances at many Home Guard parades are so poof that there is a widespread feeling of discouragement and despondency among officers, non-commissioned officers, and the keener other ranks. They urge the introduction of compulsory parades as the only means of giving j them the opportunity of putting the Home Guard on its proper footing as an efficient body to play its part in the defence of the Dominion. A point made by some of the officers concerns those men whose service with the Expeditionary Force or Territorial iWce has been postponed provided they join the Home Guard or other | auxiliary forces. It is asked whether it is fair for these men apparently to have the option of attending, parades when men in the Territorial Force are compelled to attend. In addition to urging the introduction of regulations making Guard parades compulsory, many officers have other complaints to make in what they claim are the interests of the! Guard as a whole, and of the country, the report states. Concern has been expressed locally over the fact that the E.F.S. was en-j listing men who were still subject to ballot for military services. . It was recognised that there was a measure of help from various directions. This was appreciated, "especially the assistance and sympathy that had been had from junior officers of the Territorials and other units." In the matter of outside aid some units had fared well in being assisted with the means to carry on, and much help, apart from the training, had been given willingly by the men themselves. There was encouragement there to go on with the job, but, it was felt, more was wanted from official sources.