WORK OF HOME GUARD

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 6

WORK OF HOME GUARD

PARADES IN WESTERN DISTRICT Mi- Lloyd W. Woods, area recreational I officer, who has been placed in charge |of the physical training of the Home Guard in the Central Otago, Eastern Southland and the Southland-Dunedin district, visited the parade of the Orepuki company on Friday evening and the Tuatapere Company’s district rally at the Tuatapere Domain on Saturday afternoon. | The parade strengths were as folI lows:— | Orepuki.—Three platoons, 80 men. j Squad drill and company drill were carried out bj' the company. Tuatapere.—Five platoons from Te Tua, Tuatapere, Clifden, Orawia and Pukemaori; a total of 160 men on parade. A district rally was held, almost the entire parade attending with arms. Armlets were issued and company drill was carried out under Mr J. Harper. Arrangements have been completed with the National Service Department for a uniform schedule of training to be adopted by the Home Guard throughout the Dominion, and printed copies of this schedule will be available later. The Internal Affairs Department will train the instructors to carry out this programme. To complete this scheme, the following recommendations are made to area and unit commanders. (1) That each unit appoint a physical training instructor who should be preferably an active man, not too old, but not liable to be called up for service with the present class of reservists. (2) To assist him (or to carry on in his absence) each unit should appoint at least one assistant. (3) Arrangements should be made for the instructors and assistants to attend one of the following schools of instruction conducted by the recreation officer. The most convenient school should be chosen. It is most desirable that instructors do not miss a night, as the course involves definite progression. Any units whose instructors cannot reach a school, should notify the area commander, and their instructors will be trained after the close of the schools. These are as follows:—

Southern sector. —Gore, Tuesdays, February 18 and 25, March 4, 11 and 18; Invercargill, Mondays, February 17 and 24, March 3, 10 and 17; Winton, Wednesdays, February 19 and 26, March 5, 12 and 19; Tuatapere, Thursdays, February 20 and 27, March 6, 13 and 20.

Northern sector.—(Tentative dates, subject to confirmation by the area commander, Major P. Mackenzie, of Queenstown): Roxburgh, Mondays, March 24 and 31, April 7, 21 and 28; Clyde, Tuesdays, March 25, April 1,8, 22 and 29; Queenstown, Wednesdays, March 26, April 2, 16, 23 and 30; Wanaka, Thursdays, March 27, April 3, 17, 24 and May 1.