THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1942. VEGETABLE SUPPLIES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3115, 6 May 1942, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1942. VEGETABLE SUPPLIES

Maoris living on Matakana Island, which lies between Tauranga Harbour and the sea, are to plant up to 200 acres in potatoes and the crop will be sent to the various military camps. There are some areas of good land in the island, although the growing of maize may have reduced their fertility and the absence of frosts should ensure an early crop. The development, although not on a large scale, is welcomed for the authorities, knowing that they had to secure foodstuffs for many thousands of men—all with very healthy appetities—had not shown any marked initiative in this matter. In New South Wales alone growers were offered contracts for the supply of 40,000 tons of vegetables. They included swedes, silver beet, beetroot, parsnips, cabbage, white turnips and carrots. Prices were fixed on a basis that would give growers a reasonable return. As far as possible the contracts were to be placed in districts where there were concentrations of troops but additional supplies were also being sought in places where canneries were available to handle local production. Action along those lines might do something to overcome the shortages in domestic supplies in the Dominion. ■ THE HOME GUARD Last week’s announcement concerning compulsory enrolment in the Home Guard for civilian men between the ages of 35 and 51 will have caused no surprise. Of late there has been an increasing flow of transfers from the Home Guard to the regular forces. On the other hand, recruiting for the Guard has practically ceased for the reason* that all reasonably fit men who are free to give sparetime service are either already in the Guard or belong to the Emergency. Precautions Services. The latter group is much the larger and from it will be drawn the personnel require'd from time to time to maintain Guard battalions at establishment strength. No sensible person will doubt the wisdom of keeping up strength and extending the system of spare-time military training by this means, for there is no alternative. It is a great pity, however, that the Guard’s future needs could, not have been foreseen earlier. Had the authorities looked ahead from the end of last year, and planned accordingly, the New Year compulsory enrolment of male citizens (which was limited to E.P.S. enrolment) could have been carried out on the broader basis of “national service as required.” Then, by a process of selection, the available manpower could have been divided in suitable proportion. As it was the Home Guard got only those who chose to volunteer. The E.P.S. took all the rest holus-bolus, and have since had the task of placing and training them. The new regulation provides, in effect, for a gradual adjustment of the position. But it is a clumsy expedient, and one bound to react most disconcertingly on the E.P.S., which, as they lose men to the Home Guard, will have to begin enrolment and training all over again, this time, presumably, with women and boys—the. only classes of citizens left to call upon.