HOME GUARD FUNDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20527, 10 April 1941, Page 11

HOME GUARD FUNDS

PROVISION BY STATE CAPITATION GRANT I/- A HEAD QUARTERLY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Following on a recent statement made by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, to-day announced that the Government had agreed to make a capitation grant as a subsidy towards the establishment and maintenance expenses of units of the Home Guard.

"The Government agreed to meet all expenditure down to and including area headquarters establishments,” said Mr. Semple, “and it was also agreed to assist units by way of a capitation grant. The grant will be based on the number of men in each area who attend a minimum of 75 per cent of scheduled parades each quarter, and will be at the rate of 2s a man for the period ended December 31, 1940, and thereafter at the rate of Is a man a quarter. “The funds thus being made available are intended to assist units to meet such expenses as the cost of transport, rental of halls, lighting of parade grounds, stationery and other such incidental expenses.

“Generally speaking, it is considered that the grant should be sufficient for the purposes stated, but where individual units require additional funds it is expected that local bodies will provide them. The method of allocation and distribution of the grant is now being formulated and very shortly all concerned will be advised of the procedure and the amount due up to the end of March will bo made available to individual units.