MR. SEMPLE AND HOME GUARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24027, 26 July 1941, Page 8

MR. SEMPLE AND HOME GUARD

Sir,—The Hon. R. Semple's statement setting out the reason for his completely unwarranted attack on Colonel M. Aldred, District Commander of the Homo Guard, entirely misses the main point at issue. Even assuming the Colonel had been indiscreet in publishing confidential matter —and this is extremely doubtful as the allegedly "confidential" information had been Home Guard gossip for weeks past—this would in no way excuse or justify the insulting manner of the Minister's reference to Colonel Aldred. Mr. Remple should be well aware that "this individual," as he contemptuously refers to the Colonel, is Home Guard District Commander of territory embracing n, considerable portion of the North Island: a deliberate insult to the District Commander obviously reflects on the whole movement and as such is strongly resented. In referring to the four months' work he undertook in recruiting for the Guard Mr. Semple should remember that many of us in the movement have worked for eight months without pay. publicity, reward or recognition, and in spite of departmental indifference, in the interests of the Home Guard; and this quite apart from the fact that the majority of us also served our

country for several years, not months, in the Great War. The public should be informed that we in the Home Guard feel very strongly in this matter. Is it too much t-o expect the Minister to be big enough to apologise to the Colonel, or will he content himself with the palpable shuffling of the mere politician? Battalion Commander. ["All that matters so far as T am concerned," said Colonel M. Aldred last night, "is that so many guardsmen should have expressed confidence in me as their district commander. However, as the Guard is made up of men holding widely differing political convictions, and since any internal disruption must 1)0 avoided nt all costs, it seems to me that the best thing we can do now is to ceaso worrying and to get on with the job."]