IMPORTANCE OF HOME GUARD

Southland Times, Issue 24420, 28 April 1941, Page 6

IMPORTANCE OF HOME GUARD

GOVERNORGENEKAL’S

APPEAL

“DOMINION ENROLMENT NOT ENOUGH”

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 27. While stating that there had been a wonderful response, especially in the country districts, to the appeab for volunteers for the Horne Guard, the Governor-General, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall, when addressing a Home Guard parade at the domain, said that the total Dominion enrolment of about 100,000 men was not enough. The war, which had been far away, had come much nearer in the past few months and the Empire was in jeopardy, his Excellency said. “But if we all play our parts we will win this fight for freedom,” he added. His Excellency told the guardsmen they were training themselves to become fit to carry out most, important work for the defence of their country. He had seen the Home Guard in action in England and it had done wonderful work. Now it was recognized as an essential part of the defence oi the Motherland. Guardsmen in Britain had taken over many duties which would otherwise have to be performed by regular soldiers and thus thousands oi men had been released for active seivice. Should the invasion of England be attempted the Home Guard would play a vitally important part and the local knowledge of the guardsmen would be of inestimable value. “The Army at Home is wise to. Hus and is giving it the greatest help,” he said. SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT His Excellency said he knew the present shortage of equipment made things difficult, but he also knew the guardsmen would realize that the first two lines of defence would have to be equipped first. “I am glad to see a number of exservicemen on parade, but there are a lot more who are not in . the Home Guard,” his Excellency said.. The experience of such men was invaluable. Those who were too young for the last war and too old for this also had a wonderful chance of service. “It is no use waiting for the attacK to arrive,” he added. “All available should start training and do their bit now. That applies to those not already called up.”

100,000 MEN NOW IN

HOME GUARD

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 26. New Zealand now has 100,000 Home Guardsmen, the figure set as the original aim when the campaign was inaugurated five months ago by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple. Mr Semple said the organization would continue to take all men who volunteered. He was most impressed with the remarkable enthusiasm of the men. There was nothing they would not do. In the country districts the enthusiasm was amazing. For a time the cities had lagged behind, but in recent weeks they, too, had come up to scratch. After referring to the work of the women’s organizations and the Emergency Precautions Scheme the Minister said: “New Zealand is organized today as it has never been before in its history. There is, of course, still a lot. of finishing work to be done. For instance, the men of the Home Guard have yet to receive their equipment, but preparations to that end are in hand. There is a little impatience on the part of some people, but I want them to appreciate the fact that the difficulties are something over which we have no control. These difficulties will disappear in due course and I ask those people to have patience and faith. “The Women’s Auxiliary will work in with both the Home Guard and the Emergency Precautions Scheme and many channels of activity are now open to women, so that they may ease the strain on the man-power very materially. In Britain, the women are doing many kinds of jobs to ease the strain on man-power, and doing them with the highest degree of efficiency. What the women of Britain can do, the girls of this country can, and will, do equally well, for they are made of the same stuff.”