HOME GUARD

Waikato Independent, Volume XLII, Issue 4003, 20 May 1942, Page 3

HOME GUARD

BOOTS AND BATTLEDRESS TE MIRO TROOP’S SUCCESS Members of the Te Miro Home Guard won the dual Jumping event at the Patriotic Show in Hamilton on Saturday. The riders were .1. Keyte and R. Morris. Repairing Boots Payment to Home Guard units of a sum sufficient to cover the average cost of repairs for Home Guards* men’s boots has been authorised by the Cabinet. Payment will be on the basis of 8/- a year for each Home Guardsman who qualifies for payment of the capitation allowance by attending parades totalling not less than 20 hours a.quarter.

Privilege of Citizenship “If a man enjoys the privileges of citizenship in this country he should be prepared to defend it,’’ said Major Higginson, commanding officer of the Matamata (Tamehana\ Battalion of the Home Guard, at an “Awake New Zealand” meeting at Putaruru.

Mr P. 0. Bonham said at the same meeting that if it were not for the Home Guard, which sees the danger which many others miss, New Zealand would not be as safe as it is. Battledress in Christchurch Members of the Christchurch North Battalion of the Home Guard are the envy of their fellows in other battalions, for they are now being issued with battledress instead of service uniforms.

The order in which Home Guard battalions were uniformed was decided by lot, and those equipped first considered themselves lucky, on the principle that a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush. Events have proved, however, that Christchurch North was the lucky battalion in being last on the list. Commendable Willingness One reservist’s willingness to serve in the Home Guard astonished even hardened members of the Armed Forces Appeal Board during a sitting at Matamata as the following dialogue shows:— A member: You say you milk 80 cows by yourself?

Reservist: Yes. The chairman: And you say you can serve in the Home Guard?

Reservist: Yes, I’ll do my best

The third member (smilingly): What do you do in your spare time? Later, in announcing the board’s decision to allow the appeal, the chairman (Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M.) stated that members felt that this reservist could not give service in the Home Guard, in view of his farm work.