URGENT NEED

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3820, 24 February 1941, Page 7

URGENT NEED

RIFLES FOR HOME GUARD

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER

In a recent statement, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said that the equipping of the Home Guard with rifles in addition to meeting the needs of the armed forces was becoming increasingly difficult.

In fact, said Mr Fraser, with the increased arms requirements of the continually growing numbers of men joining up, it had been found impracticable to make an adequate supply available to the Home Guard, which now numbered' more than 66,000, with hundreds more volunteering every day. The Army authorities had already released a large number of rifles for the use of the Home Guard, said Mr Fraser, but many more were needed.

“Absolutely Essential”

“There is no need to stress the fact,” said Mr Fraser, “that it is absolutely essential that rifles should be available not only for actual use should the necessity arise but also for training purposes now. Rifles by no means, however, are the only weapons in modern warfare and the training in these other arms has received full attention, but so far as increasing the usefulness of the Home Guard is concerned I would like to emphasise that it is highly desirable that they should have more rifles. “From a recent survey,” Mr Fraser continued, “it is known that there are approximately 20,000 pri-vately-owned rifles in the Dominion and if these are made available they will ease the situation very considerably and it is to these owners that the appeal is addressed.”

Mr Fraser said he realised the very great care which owners, such as members of rifle clubs, bestowed on their rifles, but in the present circumstances they should be willing to make every contribution to the common cause. Probably all marksmen would have already joined the Home Guard. If not, he hoped that they would lose no time in doing so. But if they could not offer their own services, he would at least ask them to lend their rifles.

Police Action Not Taken

“It may be, of course,” said Mr Fraser, “that some rifle owners have failed to notify the police of their possession of weapons and therefore have rendered themselves liable for penalties. To those individuals I say, do not hesitate because you are afraid of being prosecuted. Under the circumstances I can assure you that action will not be taken against you.” Mr Fraser added that the Government would undertake as soon as possible after the war ended to return the rifles in good order and condition to the owners or replace them. The owners would receive official receipts and were urged to hand in their rifles to the nearest police station at the earliest date.

The Government was empowered to requisition rifles under the war regulations, but I feel confident that iall owners who could would respond to the appeal.