A Home Guard Association

Southland Times, Issue 24446, 28 May 1941, Page 4

A Home Guard Association

IN undertaking the formation of a Home Guard Association the Invercargill Rotary Club has performed a useful and timely service. The new association will watch the interests of the Invercargill units of the Home Guard in the same way as the Territorial Force Association has for some years past lent its support to the Territorials, and it will be surprising if the example is not

followed in other parts of Southland and, indeed, in other provincial centres. The move in Invercargill originated with Mr F. : G. Hall-Jones who felt that many men who were unable to become active members of the Guard would welcome the opportunity of supporting it financially. Mr Hall-Jones was able to aimounce yesterday that nearly £2OO of the £5OO aimed at had been subscribed, and that part of this sum had already been handed over to the Guard for the purchase of training manuals and equipment. The merit of the cause and the enthusiastic help of the Rotary Club should place the success of the appeal beyond any doubt. The association should take care, however, that it is not used by the Government and the local bodies as an additional reason for avoiding their own responsibilities towards the Home Guard. When the Guard was formed, the Government laid on local bodies the obligation of maintaining the various district units. The local bodies objected, and with good reason; but the Government has never released them from this obligation, and the small capitation which has since been offered to Home Guard units cannot be regarded as a substitute for local body grants. Sooner or later, the Home Guard will have to be reorganized, and the muddle which has characterized its administration in Wellington will have to be brought to an end. Even if the Guard is reconstituted on the most favourable basis as far as money and equipment are concerned, the new association will still find many opportunities for service. In the meantime, while the Guard is not receiving the consideration due to it, the association can serve a specially valuable purpose in providing the most urgently needed supplies and fostering public interest in an important defence force.