THE HOME GUARD

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4402, 14 March 1941, Page 4

THE HOME GUARD

CLAIM OF FARMERS’ UNION. ORIGINATED THE SCHEME. When opening proceedings at the annual meeting of the T e Wwamutu branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Wednesday night, the President (Mr A. S. Wyllie) mentioned that the attendance had been adversely affected by the fact that in no less than four important farming centres that night Home Guard parades were being held. Speaking at a later stage, Mr A. C. A. Sexton, vice-president of the Auckland Provincial Executive, and a returned soldier, said it was a fact that the Home Guard was putting additional labour on the members. However, they had to remember that the Union was really responsible for bringing the scheme into operation. The urgent need for some systematic scheme of national defence, and the fact that there were many returned and capable men willing to serve, had been brought to the notice of the Government, with the result that the Home Guard was the outcome. To date 70,000 men had volunteered, so that the response was little short of marvellous. The farming community had responded well. That was as it should be, as nobody could say what was going to happen. The Government, he asserted, was “windy” about the whole situation; however, they were actively adding materially to the defence of New Zealand. MANGAPIKO GROUP. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. The adjourned meeting of members of the Mangapiko group of the Home Guard, held on Wednesday last, was well attended, and was characterised by much enthusiasm. Mr L. J. Moltzen presided. Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Wynyard, Battalion Comimander, was 'present, and swore in 24 members, who elected Mr Bert Hey as group leader. Subsequently the members were put through half an hour’s drill by Ser-geant-Major W- J. Tucker.

A weekly parade will be held every Tuesday night at 7.45 o’clock.

TE RAU-A-MOA GROUP. THE FIRST PARADE. The first parade and rifle practice of the Te Rau-a-Moa group of the Home Guard was held on Saturday last, when there was a good attendance of members, who performed useful drill and exercises under the leadership of Mr A. K. Hogarth. FREE ELECTRICITY. SUPPLY TO HOME GUARD. As the result of inquiries by members of Home Guard units in the Waikato district, the Central Waikato Electric Power Board resolved last Wednesday to install electric lighting to all Home Guard units in the district, and to supply the power free, although 10 per cent of the capital cost would be charged for the maintenance of the lights. LOCALLY-MADE GRENADES. HAWKES BAY EXPERIMENT. Grenades from materials which could easily be procured locally proved highly successful at the Home Guard School of Instruction for officers from all parts of Hawkes Bay, held in Napier last week-end. A demonstration of the effectiveness of the ordinary 12-bore shotgun, using special shot, was also given. Holes big enough for a man to put his hand through were blown in a sheepskin at ranges of 25 and 50 yards, the shot also piercing both sides of a large petrol drum standing- behind the target. The power of this type of weapon was demonstrated effectively when a piece' of candle-grease was shot through a board three-quarters of an inch thick. These experiments removed any conjecture in the minds of those present as to the effectiveness of the shotgun as a fighting weapon at close range.