THE HOME GUARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 9

THE HOME GUARD

CONFERENCE IN CITY PETROL AND DEFENCE MANY TOPICS DISCUSSED The opinion that it would be impossible to carry out the required training unless the minimum amount of petrol necessary was provided was expressed at a conference of Home Guard group directors of the Northern Military District which was lield in Auckland yesterday at the request of the district director, Colonel M. Aid red, \ .D. The efiect of the restriction of petrol supplies was one of a large number of topics of interest to the Home Guard which were discussed by the conference. Hie group directors considered that the defence of the country should be one of the last, things affected by petrol restrictions. Countrv directors emphasised that the effect' of restrictions was necessagjlv greater on country units than on town formations, where shorter distances had to be travelled to training parades. Accident Risk Question Another matter which was reported to be worrying Home Guardsmen was the question of accident liability of owner-drivers who took other Guardsmen to parades. It was decided to make strong representations to obtain an indemnity for the drivers against accident risk to their passengers. This question was stated to be affecting parade strengths. In a discussion on the arms and equipment position it was stated that since the arrival of good supplies of arms and ammunition, attendances throughout the groups had improved. The supplies had acted as a tremendous incentive to guardsmen. Colonel Aldred stated later that sufficient arms and equipment were now on hand to carry out prescribed training, and they were being distributed evenly to all units. Universal Service Urged The conference also supported the principle that compulsory universal service should be introduced in New Zealand. It was explained that this would mean that every person would have a job allotted to him. whether in the Territorial Force, Home Guard, Emergency Precautions Service or other defence organisation, and would be required to fill it. Attending the conference were the following group directors:—LieutenantColonels A. W. Short (Auckland), E. C. N. Robinson (Morrinsville), J. H. Herrold (Rotorua), H. F. Chandler (Whangarei), and R. D. McFarland (Hamilton). Major E. Lucie-Smith, general staff officer, Home Guard Headquarters, Wellington, also attended. NOTABLE SERVICE IN INDIA SIR WALTER SCOTT'S POST The appointment of Sir Walter LawScott to the temporary rank of captain and to the post of assistant group adjutant of the Nelson Home Guard Group is contained in the current Gazette. Born and educated in New Zealand, Sir Walter Scott was knighted for distinguished service in India.

He was born at Rangiora 61 years ago and educated at Christ's College and Canterbury University College, where he took his Master of Arts degree in 390], and his Bachelor of Science degree a year later. He entered the Indian Civil Service in 1903 and held various important magisterial and administrative appointments until his retirement in 1939. when he returned to New Zealand and settled in Nelson.