HOME GUARD UPKEEP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 193, 17 July 1941, Page 5

HOME GUARD UPKEEP.

COUNCIL’S OPINION. The question of the expenses of Home Guard organisations was dis-jl cussed at the Jviwitea County Conn- 1 oil’s mooting yesterday, when the' < matter of payment of certain accounts j 1 was brought up by (Jr J. H. William- ( son. who said he feJt that flic time ] had come when the guard should he l placed on a national looting and its i maintenance met out of the Consolid- 1 ! ated fund. “AVo are here to adminis- : [ ter the rates, and not to run an - army,” he continued. "Ratepayers are bearing the expense of the guard where the cost should be norm; by every man, woman, and child.” Cr .Stent said that he understood the . council’s obligation was in respect of , incidental expenses only, but the claims did not end there and as the 1 organisation intensified its activities the burden would become an enormous one. He suggested that a meeting be convened immediately to discuss the matter. Cr Clapham said the council was receiving demands which it had not anticipated; it was unfair that the ratepayers’ money should be used , when other sections of the community were not called upon to assist. Cr Coupcr said it had been agreed to boar the initial costs of setting up the guard on a proper footing and ho wondered whether the initial stage had been passed. Cr Shannon was of the opinion that the question was of national importance and should bo treated as such by the Government. Cr Williamson said’promises of finance had been made by the Government, but nob one penny had been made available. The Waituna unit had a number of accounts, and when the council got them it would get a shock. Cr Tappin said that some of the guardsmen had an idea they would bo reimbursed for their expenses for petrol, and there might bo some trouble later. Cr D’Ath said that members were losing interest in the Home Guard and soon the attendances would be well down. . The meeting carried the following resolution unanimously: ‘‘That, owing to the amount submitted to this council for Home Guard maintenance. the council feels that it cannot stand lip to continued demands being made upon it, and that when the amount placed on the estimates is expended the Home Guard will have to look elsewhere for financial assistance, as the council considers the guard should now ho a charge on the Consolidated Fund.” The council also resolved that a meeting of the county Home Guard committee bo called to discuss tlm matter of finance end maintenance of the guard as it auects the county.