HOME DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 196, 21 July 1941, Page 6

HOME DEFENCE

REPORT TO GOVERNMENT. (Special.) WELLINGTON, July 21. The report of General Sir Guy 'Williams on the home defence of New Zealand has been received by the Government, the Minister of National Service (Mr Semple) said this morning, when commenting on a statement on the future of the Home'Guard made by Colonel M. Aldred, Homo Guard Commander for tho Auckland District. Dir Semple added that tho future of tho Home Guard was Hinder consideration and a complete report on the future of tho organisation and its relationship with the’Army would be made public in a few days’ time. The Government had brought Sir Guy Williams, who had a vast knowledgp of modern warfare, to the Dominion to give some lead in the question of homo defence. His advice had now been received.

Colonel Aldred suggested that all reasonably fit men in tho Home Guard would come under Army control, and to the colonel’s statement Dir Semple replied: “I will ask tho people to tape no notieo of an individual who has published what he had no right to publish. What he said is not official, and the public should take absolutely no notice of it! They will get a correct official statement in a few days’ time when the whole matter has been properly dealt with. I am at a loss to know where this individual got his information.”