Home Guard Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 112, 13 May 1941, Page 2

Home Guard Affairs

MANAWATU COUNTY-FOXTON SUB-AREA The chairman, Mr. W. E. Barber, presided over tho monthly meeting of the Manawatu County-Foxton Home Guard at Oroua Downs. Other members present were Messrs R. A. Wilson, W. A. Hurst, W. A. Churchill, W. R. Bync, 11. V. Bond and S. L. Orr. Enrolments to date in the Home Guard were reported on by Mr. S. L. Orr who said that the total was 720, made up as follows: .Sandon, Ohakea, Mt. Biggs 132; Awatmri 55; Rongotea 120; Glen Oroua 54; Taikorea 47; Tangimoana-Carnnr-von 35; Rangiotu 92; Oroua Downs 104; Foxton and Manawatu Heads 25. E.P.S. enrolments numbered 135, making a total in all of 855. In his report, the sub-area commander, Mr. H. V. Bond, said that weekly parades had been held for general training both in the evenings and daylight. Some units had had two parades per week whilst rifles were available. On April 19 a tactical exercise for commanders and n.c.o’s was carried out on the coast and subsequently separate units had carried out field operations. A full muster parade and tactical exercise w r as planned for ali ranks to take place on the coast on May 24. The question of finance was still a burning one within the different units but it was that tho promised Government capitation grant would assist the position. A copy of a Homo Guard manual published by the Home Guard headquarters in Napier, which was before the meeting was adopted as the training manual for all units in this sub-area. The subarea commander was requested to suggest to headquarters that this manual be adopted throughout the Dominion as the standard training book. A lengthy letter from the National Service Department was before the meeting dealing with the Government capitation grant to Home Guard units. The letter set out the basis and tho conditions attaching to the grant, tho basis of the initial grant is to be as follows:—For the period ended December 31, 1940, 2s for each Guardsman who has attended not less than 75 per cent, of scheduled parades during January and February of this year and thereafter grants on the basis of Is for each Guardsman who attends a minimum of 75 per cent, of parades during each quarter. The allocation *of grants between units in each area is to be determined by a special finance committee consisting of the area commander and sub-area commanders in the area. This method had 'been decided upon owing to the fact that certain units in each area may be involved in greater expense than others. For example, cost of transport in the case of rural units may be greater than in the case of suburban units, athough, generally the allocation would be made on a pro rata basis according to the number of members in each unit at the end of the quarter. Payment of tho grant *is to be made to the local bodies who will act as “bankers” for the individual units within thfeir area. Mr. Bond said that it appeared to him to be a cumbersome way of administering the grant in view of the fact that a Homo Guard Organisatiol was set up and could quite easily deal with the matter instead of handing it over to the local bodies. Mr. R. A. Wilson agreed that the local bodies did not want to have the administration ol the money and felt that the Homo Guard headquarters in Palmerston North should deal with the matter for this area. It was decided that a letter be sent to the National Service Department recommending that the Home Guard headquarters in each area receive the money from the Government and administer the funds instead of tho local bodies having to deal with it. A letter is to be sent to all the local bodies in the Home Guard 6A area requesting support of this proposal. Mr. W. A. Hurst said that it appeared to him that there would not be much for the committee to do in future but Mr. R. A. Wilson was of the opinion that it would be wise to carry on even if the committee did not meet monthly, as they served as a liaison between the Home Guard organisation and the Manawatu County and Foxton Borough. The chairman, Atr.„W. E. Barber, said that the Manawatu County had set up the committee and he wished to know whether their work had been completed. Mr. W. R. Byne, Foxton, said he did not agree that the committee should go into recess at present as there may be future meetings of the district committee. Following a short discussion it was decided to carry on in the meantime.