HOME GUARD TRAINING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24856, 4 March 1942, Page 6

HOME GUARD TRAINING

« TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Permit me to draw attention to the lack of efficient rifle training of members of the Home Guard in longdistance shooting. During my years membership our company has fired five rounds of .303 at a range of 25 yards. This was a waste of ammunition as far as training was concerned, but that is a year’s total. As a returned soldier I would like you to picture what would happen if these men, many of them never having fired a service rifle before, had to take the field against trained troops like the Japanese. Yet the heads of the movement in Dunedin stated when the Japanese came into the war that the Home Guard was fully organised and ready to take the field. Further, the rifles issued are for drill purposes only and are not to be fired except in an emergency. This state of affairs reflects no credit on those who are in charge of the military affairs. In the last war we were told that our rifle was our best friend, but it is the last thing the present-day soldier is taught to use. The same thing applies to soldiers going overseas, as several of them told me when they were on final leave that they had never fired further than 30 yards. The whole training of the present day is wrong, as shown by the setbacks our soldiers have received. Unless a soldier can use his rifle efficiently at up to 800 yards and judge h'is own range and windage, his training is not complete. The present service rifle in good hands is a deadly weapon up to 1000 yards, but how many of our young soldiers could get their man at a quarter of that distance? Very few. The Boers showed what could be done by crack shots, but it‘ is a curious thing that the British nation never learns from past mistakes. Surely it is time something was done in this matter. There are many longdistance shots belonging to tne two rifle clubs who could be utilised to teach these recruits. We have a good range at Pelichet Bay, but I understand that when shooting is done there it is at 30 yards instead of at the long ranges. Every district should have a range up to 500 or 600 yards anyway, and shooting once a week going on.— I am, etc., An Old Rifle Club Member. SPECIALISTS’ SERVICE AT THE HOSPITAL TO THE EDITOR Sir,—Far from attacking Dr McMillan, your correspondent should have complimented him. It is high time that the specialists, who are well paid for their out-patient services, attended more promptly.—l am, etc., ‘ Fop Into the Kettle. Dunedin, March 2. tO THE EDITOR Sir, —Your correspondent attacking Dr McMillan failed badly. All Dr McMillan advocated was that the specialists should be placed on the basis as members of Parliament: no attendance at a session, no payment for that session.—l am, etc., Clean Potato. Dunedin, March 2. TO THE EDITOR Sir, —It came as a surprise to learn that the specialists are paid for the work they do at the out-patients’ department of the Hospital. From the way people are treated, and made to wait for hours, I thought they gave their services free.—l am, etc.. Waltzing Matilda. Dunedin, March 3.