A HOME GUARD ASSOCIATION

Southland Times, Issue 24446, 28 May 1941, Page 5

A HOME GUARD ASSOCIATION

Rotary Club’s Move

A decision to form an Invercargill Home Guard Association was taken at a meeting of the Invercargill Rotary Club yesterday, and a committee was appointed to collect funds and watch the interests of the Guard generally. The committee comprises Messrs Alex. Derbie (president of the Rotary Club), F. G. Hall-Jones, S. M. Macalister, T. Wray Wilson and W. F. Clouston, and it was given power to add to its numbers. Mr Hall-Jones, who presented the report of a sub-committee which had investigated the project, said it was proposed that the association should bear the same relation to the Invercargill Home Guard as the Territorial Force Assocaition did to the Territorials. If similar associations . were formed for other Home Guard units the Guard’s financial difficulties would be solved and the interest of citizens in each locality would be stimulated. “The new capitation system of finance is a step in the right direction,” said Mr Hall-Jones, “but further Government support should be urged. Trainees have set a splendid example by giving up a great deal of time for military training. When they regard it as an imposition that they should have to pay for their own explosives, petrol on manoeuvres, and so on, their views should be given serious consideration.”

£2OO PROMISED Many persons who were unable to train in the Home Guard had expressed a desire to help financially, especially as their contributions would supplement, and not relieve Government expenditure. Although no special appeal had been made, about £2OO of the amount of £5OO aimed at had already been promised and a sum had been handed over to the Home Guard for the purchase of manuals and equipment.

Mr Hall-Jones said that there was no need to form an incorporated society. The association would be merely a collecting body. Its object would be to help the Home Guard with money, goods and public support and, if necessary, with representations to the Government. It could be given power to assist any other district which might have no chance of obtaining the necessary funds. He suggested a provisional committee which might be set up to carry on for the first year. Mr Derbie said he agreed that the

job should be done, and done properly, in return for the time and service that were being given by members of the Home Guard.

Mr J. D. Campbell also endorsed the proposal and on his motion, seconded by Mr J. D. Gilmore, the committee was appointed.