THE HOME GUARD

Southland Times, Issue 24602, 26 November 1941, Page 7

THE HOME GUARD

Sir, —I was very interested in the remarks of our group commander of the Home Guard, Lieutenant-Colonel W. Bell. I wish to endorse his remarks. In this district there are fit young men who were appealed for and the appeals were allowed. These young fellows joined the Home Guard, but they only go if there isn’t anything else better to go to, such as a dance or pictures. It puzzles me where they get their petrol from to go some 18 miles to a dance several times a month. I don’t deny them their pleasures, but I think Home Guard comes first. After all it is the most they are asked to do. At one Home Guard meeting in this district they have at least four “smokos” in the course of the evening. This may have its amusing side, but if the enemy were to invade there would not be time for “smokos.” The biggest percentage of the men don’t know one end of the gun from the other. Personally I think it would be better if the Army issued them with rabbit-traps. GD A DOZEN. OLD GUARD writes criticizing the formation of Home Guard units in country districts into “unwieldly battalions.” The experience of modern war and the latest teaching, he writes, favours decentralization and the creation of small independent units. Local training and initiative are required, but the formation of companies from units more than 20 miles apart will not help towards this end. In present conditions it is impossible for outside company commanders to know other districts and administer them properly. Moreover, “Old Guard” says, the new arrangement will cause discontent among the rank and file and among local commanders who have built up their own units.