ARMY RESERVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23817, 19 November 1940, Page 8

ARMY RESERVE

FUTURE SERVICES j NO MORE CLASS 11. UNITS - ' I EX-SOLDIERS IN HOME* GUARD [BV TKLKGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Monday The Government has decided for the present that no more Class 11. units of the National Military Reserve will bo formed, but that land forces should be supplemented by the formation of a Home Guard. In making this announcement to-day, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said the Government periodically reviewed the Dominion's requirements in armed forces, and quite recently the number of units of the National Military Beserve, Class 11., had been increased and independent squadrons of Mounted Bifles had also been added to the land forces. Organising Home Guard National Military Reserve units and independent Mounted Rifle squadrons were considered of vital importance to the defence of the localities to which they had been allotted, but the coastline of Now Zealand was a long one and there were many places outside those localities at which landings might be made. . Mr. Jones recalled that the commander of the Home Guard, under the direction of the Minister of National Service, the Hon. B. Semplo, was now engaged in organising units of the Home Guard throughout New Zealand. Ho added that he wished to emphasise the importance of all returned soldiers not enrolled in a recognised unit of the National Military Reserve offering their services to the Home Guard. It was just such men who, by reason ot their military experience, could provide instructors and leaders for the Home Guard units. Further, the Government did not intend to embody any additional units in the National Military Beserve, and consequently, in future, the only opportunity for rendering such service would be in the Home Guard. Procedure in Emergency The Minister outlined the various duties of Home Guard units and urged all those in the National Military Reserve not already on the strength of any army unit to enrol now. Mr. Jones said that, although the Home Guard would not form part of the military forces at this stage, it was intended that, should it bo found necessary during an emergency units or subunits of the Home Guard would be absorbed into the army. Meanwhile he hoped that the. formation and organisation of the Home Guard would proceed rapidly and smoothly in order that the whole Dominion might be properly organised into sectors with a unit of the Home Guard in each, and the training of men commenced without delay. BRANCH AT HAMILTON AREA COMMANDKR'S VIEWS [BY TELECRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON, Monday A Hamilton branch of the Home Guard was formed at a large meeting in the Waikato Winter Show Hall to-night. The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr.' H. D. Caro, presided. Colonel R. D. McFarland, No. 4, Hamilton military area commander, who outlined the scope and duties of the organisation, said he considered New Zealand should have 80.000 trained men divided between the two islands. Of the 8000 men he hoped to see enrolled in the No. 4 area, he would like about 2000 from Hamilton. Already, he added, the town had a solid nucleus of men. Mr. T. H. Melrose, unit commander in the Hamilton area, emphasised the absence of political bias in the organisation. Forms were distributed at the meeting, and it was announced that a booth would be opened in Garden Place to-morrow morning. At the close of the meeting, 85 men enrolled in the organisation.