Home Guard

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 196, 19 August 1941, Page 7

Home Guard

A conference of group directors (previously called area commanders) of the Home Guard, Wellington district, and Army staff officers was held at Palmerston North on Saturday for the purpose of discussing matters arising from the changeover of the Home Guard from the National Service Department to the Defence Department. Army representatives were Brigadier Weir and Colonel Potter. Homo Guard, officers included the district director, Colonel R. St. J. Beere, D. 5.0., Major D. W. MeClurg, 2nd i/c, and Major Greenish, district intelligence officer, Group Directors

Major D. G. Johnston (Wellington), Major R. D. Hardie, D.S.O. (Wanganui), Lieut. C. V. Cioclietto, M.C., M.M. j (Palmerston North), Lieut. J. W. Snad-! don (Napier), Col. R. F. Gambrill, V.D. (Gisborne), Capt. W. R. Birch, M.C. • (Mastertou), Lieut. Delph, M.C. (New < Plymouth), and Lieut.-Col. Gibbs, V.D. (Stratford), in most cases they were accompanied by their staffs. The conference was not open to the , press, but we are informed that a wide j range of important matters connected j with the reorgaAisation was discussed ; and the group directors are now in a position to go forward with confidence relying upon the full co-operation of the Army. There is no intention to make any drastic changes in the organisation which has oeen built up, but to strengthen it and provide lor smoother working as between the different : branches of the Defence Department. It I will be noted that the title of Area Commander disappears. It is replaced by the title of Group Director. This may cause a little confusion to the general public, but once the new title gets into use it will be round that it is a much more accurate description of the office. The leader of the Home Guard does not command an area, that being the function of the senior military officer. What he does is to direct the activities of a group of Home Guard formations. Tae organisation as now laid down, follows very cioseiy on the lines of the English Home Guard, in both countries tae Home Guard directorate is responsible to and communicates direct with the War Council or Cabinet, settles its own internal procedure and administers its own financed to a large extent. The Group Director, Lieut. C. V. Ciochetto, M.C., M.M., is arranging a series of parades, the first of which wifi be held at Palmerston iiuiiu to-night, followed by parades at Feilding, Levis and Otaki, in order to inform the Guard of the details.