Sensation in Home Guard

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3891, 13 August 1941, Page 1

Sensation in Home Guard

COMMANDER'S ACTION

DIFFERENCE OYER CAPITATION GRANT RESOLUTION TO MINISTER A special meeting of the Cambridge Home Guard Committee was held on Monday evening to consider a statement said to have been made by the Battalion Commander, Captain E. J. F. Kennedy, in which lie alleged that the committee was endeavouring to retain the capitation grant of £94, which had recently come to hand from the Government. The committee contended that as it had been informed that Captain Kennedy had made his statement to Headquarters’ Company from the steps of the Town Hall, it was a public utterance, and could not be let pass unchallenged. After considerable discussion, the committee passed the following resolution:

“That this committee views with concern the unsatisfactory state of affairs existing in the Cambridge Home Guard Battalion, which it is considered is due to the conduct of the Battalion Commander, Captain Kennedy, and as the committte considers this officer entirely unsuitable to hold this responsible position, representations be made to the Minister of National Service to have his appointment cancelled.” The secretary was instructed to outline the details of the occurrence to the Minister. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the Area Commander. Resignation from Committee At tiie opening of the meeting, a letter was read from Captain Kennedy in which he tendered his resignation from the committee (on which he was one of the R.S.A. representatives) as he felt that the committee was not serving any useful purpose, he said. I In the bourse of the discussion which resulted in the acceptance of the resignation, a member remarked that the letter was an insult to the committee. It was pointed out that until the capitation grant was made, the committee was‘relied upon to provide the finance for the Home Guard. Members recalled a meeting they attended at Hamilton, 'When the Hon. R. Semple had said that strong committees representative of the districts would have to be formed. Remarks Discussed Discussion of Captain Kennedy’s remarks was introduced by the chairman, Mr W. Moore. He said that Captain Kennedy had accused the committee of retaining money which it had never received. The j capitation grant had been sent to | Mr F. T. Ray without any instrucj tions. To protect himself, the Town ! Clerk had communicated with Wel- ! lington before, handing the money to anvone. Mr Moore added that the

attitude of the committee at the previous meeting was quite clear, when it had been agreed that the battalion could get all the money it wanted on making a requisition to Mr Ray.

Various speakers considered Captain Kennedy’s argument and alleged accusations very extraordinary. There was no reason why tne committee should hold on to money out

of which it would get nothing. It was more likely that they would be pleased to be rid of the responsibility. . I

Mr Edgar James said that Captain Kennedy had come to his office and in strong terms had condemned the other members of the committee. He knew that Captain Kennedy had said the same about him to other people. He had told Captain Kennedy that his demonstration was beyond all limits, and not in keeping with his position as battalion commander. •Mr James added that he had resented his position as Mayor being quoted by Captain Kennedy. As far as the Home Guard was concerned he (the Mayor) was only <a member. Guardsmen had come to him in the

street asking him to do something in the matter. He had told them that they would have to place any complaints before the committee. Parade Incident A member who was on parade last Thursday, said that Captain Kennedy had told the men that he was going to cancel all parades until he got control of the capitation grant. The Battalion Commander, the speaker said, accused the committee of withholding the money and preventing him from purchasing equipment. He did not think that Captain Kennedy was fitted to hold his position.

Members agreed that it was not conducive to good discipline to address the men in such a way as Captain Kennedy was said to have done. •

Town Clerk’s Position Explained Mr Ray, who was present at the request of the committee, explained his position. He said that a sum of £94 14/- had been sent from Wellington. The instructions were involved, and as there appeared to be some doubt as to the procedure to be followed in paying over the money, he wrote to the Minister. No reply was received for a day or two, and when he received a demand for the money from Captain Kennedy, he rang up Wellington and discussed the position with the accountant of the National Service Department and the Director, Mr J. S. Hunter. Pleasure was expressed in Wellington that such an active Home Guard Committee was operating, said Mr Ray. He was informed that so few committees were active that instructions had been issued for the money to be paid to Battalion Commanders and another appointee. However, as the Cambridge Committee was functioning, instructions were given over the telephone for Mr Ray to pay the money to the committee. A telegram to that effect arrived later. Instructions Altered The money was not paid to Captain Kennedy, who then got in touch with Wellington himself', added Mr Ray. It was then that he (Mr Ray) received a telephone message from Wellington intimating that the original procedure would have to be followed, and the money paid over to the Battalion Commander. The position was that the committee controlled the money received from local bodies, and the Battalion Commander controlled the capitation grant, said Mr Ray. It was agreed by members that if the capitation grant \vere increased, then there would be no need for public bodies to contribute. Lack of Information Dissatisfaction was expressed at the little information supplied to the committee, and it was decided to communicate with the . Minister and ascertain what powers the committee had. “We are groping in the dark. If we have no power we might as well j wind up the committee and return j the money in hand to the local bod- | ies who contributed,” said a member.

After some further'discussion concerning the altitude to be adopted in connection with Captain Kennedy’s alleged remarks, the resolution as quoted was passed. The committee approved the action taken by Mr Ray in the matter. Those present were: Messrs W. Moore (chairman), A. Looker, W. Morrow, .1. Bruce, J. W. Garland, C. La Trobe Hill, A. J. Swayne, Edgar James, C. G. Wallace, F. H. Green. F. L. St. John and F. M. Oliver (secretary).