TRANSFER OF HOME GUARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 2 August 1941, Page 6

TRANSFER OF HOME GUARD

MR SEMPLE’S^SATISFACTION SUCCESS OF ENLISTMENT < AMP lIGN Satisfaction with the reorganisation of the Home Guard and its transfer tc Army control was expressed by the Minister of National Service. Mr Semple, in an interview last night. ‘The National Service Departments tusk was to organise the Home Guard.’ said Mr Semple. “We set out to dc this several months ago without a single member and to-day we have 103.000 in the Home Guard, which, in m> opinion, is an accomplishment to bf proud of. In addition, we have 80.00' in the E.P.S. organisation and 20.00 C in the Women’s War Service Auxiliary (30,000 if affiliated bodies are included). It was never expected tha the National Service Department couk classify and drill the Home Guard, be cause the National Service Departmen is not a military organisation, and therefore, has not got the personnel t< classify the recruits, train them, anr provide equipment. It was obviou: from the start that if the Home Guar< was to be used effectively for Home defence it had to be given the necessary training and equipment, which coulc only be provided and# cared for by th< Army. “My job as Minister of Nations Service was to get the enlistments, anc in that effort we have been extremelj successful. I thank all those who as sisted me in the task. I specially mention General Young, Mr R. Sinel (wh< travelled with General Young and my self). Mr C. J. Hay (Liaison Officer) and hundreds of other willing peopl< who threw their weight into the organisation from its inception, and gav< their time and energy. They were ar l inspiration to others. My thanks an also due to the local bodies, throughout New Zealand, who fully co-oper-ated with me both in the organ i sat id of the Home Guard and the E.P.S. “The E.P.S. is an organisation con trolled of course, by the local bodies which is becoming a magnificent one The Women's War Service Auxiliary *: | also very valuable and has played it part well. The young women have beei ; drafted into various occupations, includ ing the Air Force, from the Auxiliary and are playing a very useful part it the war effort. Thanks are due to th< j many women’s committees throughou the country, who have given their tirri' and energy to bringing this organisa tion to perfection. GRATITUDE TO GENERAL WILLIAMS “The Government and the nation ar ' grateful to General Sir Guy William; who was invited by the Government t 1 come to New Zealand to give us som< i know ledge ol' modern warfare and mor : particularly the form ol organisa tioi 1 and equipment necessary for our Horn l , defence. He had no hesitation in re ( commending that the Home Guard t« passed over to the Army and with thi the Government was in full agreement The Home Guard would be useless un loss it was thoroughly trained an< : equipped. They can now look forwar ' very shortly to the time when the; will be a very virile and valuable fore in this country. “In addition to this, it was been an nounced already by the Minister of Do fence that Brigadier Put'tick is to re turn to New Zealand. He is a ver; distinguished soldier and has had tre mendous experience in this war. Wit l liis knowledge of the latest method of warfare I am sure he will be a towe of strength both to the Army and th Home Guard, and an inspiration to th nation. “1 have been asking Home Guards men throughout the Dominion to wai patiently till we had an opportunit; of doing something worth while. Tha time has now arrived.”