HOME GUARD FINANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24211, 28 February 1942, Page 4

HOME GUARD FINANCE

Sir, —I wish to correct the statement in Major Melrose's article in your issue of Febriiary 26, that I donated £IOOO to the Home Guard. The position is aa follows: 1 donated £2OO and guaranteed to raise this to £IOOO. This has now been done through the donations of 10 or 12 earnest citizens, and these citizens, without presuming; to lead and in all humility, hope that groups of 10 or 20 men throughout New Zealand will arise and stand behind each and every Home Guard battalion in a similar manner. Home Guard committees cannot function without definite financial backing, but I make bold to say that given this backing, these committees will soon coordinate their efforts throughout New Zealand and very substantially improve their weapon equipment from plant and materials at present unused in this country. What is more essential at the present dangerous time than a well-armed Home Guard, 250,000 strong, to ably support the regular army ?nd ring New Zealand with a wall of steel ? I am told, and rightly, I believe, Ibat grenades and mortars are more elective than rifles in modern warfare, av:d these can and must be supplied to the Home Guard to hearten them and swell their ranks. Democracy only acts fully when danger is acute. It is acute now, so will groups of 10 or 20 earnest men forget the taxation they are paying and stand behind their respective Home Guard battalions and support a movement that can and will fend off this very real and terrible threat to our wives, daughters and sweethearts. Let the voice of an angry nation be heard. P. O. Bonham.