LITTLE INTEREST

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23113, 30 January 1945, Page 4

LITTLE INTEREST

Meeting Of Home Guardsmen

Organisation Formed

Pertinent comment on the lack of enthusiasm, as indicated by the small attendance, was made by Mr G. Moody, who described himself as the oldest Home Guardsman in New Zealand, at an inaugural meeting of the Home Guard Association which was held in the Timaru Borough Council Chambers last night. “How many Home Guardsmen are there?” askd Mr Moody. “A thousand! What are 12 out of 1000? It is an utter disgrace to South Canterbury and to Timaru in particular that there are so few present. I am sure that we could get a better representation if we made the effort. I will undertake to bring five members to the next meeting, and if we all do the same We will have an attendance of 50 or more. I am nearly 90 and was the oldest Home Guardsman in New Zealand. I did it for love of the old flag,” Mr Moody continued. “I am proud of it and'it is going to be the flag of all .flags. How cool and collected you are! If I had spoken like this at' a' meeting in the East End of London there would have been a roar of applause. I am an old man, but I have had my say!” Mr P. S. Enting (chairman of the provisional committee): You are entitled to express your opinion. Mr Moody. We all feel disappointed at the small attendance, but my experience is that you do not get very many people to attend meetings. There were 40 at our initial meeting convened by the Mayor (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) and most of them wished to be members of the Home Guard Association. It is not lack of enthusiasm which is the reason for their absence.

Mr A. C. Shaw: The advertisement calling the meeting stated that we would elect officers. I move that we carry on. If we do not do so it will create the impression that the whole thing has gone "phut,” and it will be hard to revive again. A provisional executive was elected and is leaving it to us to get on with the job. Mr H. R. Preston: You do not need a motion.

On the motion of the chairman it was agreed that the Home Guard Association be formed and a constitution was approved.

The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, - Lieut.-Colonel R p Harper; president. Mr P. S. Enting-vice-president, Mr A. C. Shaw; acting-secretary-treasurer, Mr F. E. Sherwood ■ executive committee, Messrs R. Swan’ J. D. Wraight, C. Lidstone, F. E. Sherwood, G. Moody, H. R. Preston J B Meredith, E. Butchers and J Keav ; honorary solicitor, Mr M. A. Raymond : honorary auditor, Mr F. G. M Raymond; emergency committee, Messrs P S. Enting, J. B. Meredith, H. R. Preston and F. E. Sherwood.