HOME GUARD EQUIPMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21203, 28 August 1940, Page 7

HOME GUARD EQUIPMENT

ARMS AND EQUIPMENT TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WHAKATANE, Tuesday The associate-Minister of National Service, the lion. D. Wilson, was asked at a meeting of representatives of the Whakatane and Opotiki Borough and County Councils if arms and ammunition would be issued to members of the Home Guard when it was formed. Mr Wilson replied that rifles and ammunition would be made available in limited quantities for training purposes only. He added that there were sufficient supplies to equip every member of the Home Guard should the need arise. Mr F. W. K. Raymond, president of the Whakatane branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, said physical training might be required as a preliminary in the cities, but in farming districts it should not be necessary. The Minister said that t'..e type of training would vary in different districts, and that was a matter for the group commanders, who would have the benefit of local knowledge. Replying to a question by Mr Raymond, 4 he Minister said the provision of machine-guns was also a matter for the commanders and the military authorities, between whom there would necessarily have to be collaboration. All bodies expressed support for the scheme, but resolutions favouring Whakatane and Opotiki working as separate districts and suggesting an enrolment form, which gave the local committees the right of allotment of applicants to various duties, were carried after the Minister had left the meeting, and these resolutions will be forwarded to the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple.