HOME SERVICE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 6

HOME SERVICE

TWO ORGANISATIONS DIFFERENCE IN DUTIES GUARD AND PRECAUTIONS

To enable men desirous of preparing themselves to serve their country in an emergency to decide whether they should join the Home Guard or the Emergency Precautions Volunteers, Colonel M. Aldred, Auckland District Commander of the Home Guard, has given the following statement to the Waikato Times:— “The Home Guard will be the civilian fighting force to assist the armed forces of this country in its defence should it ever be invaded. It will be, apart from the armed forces, the only volunteer fighting force allowed by law to train its members to bear arms and practice military drill and manoeuvres. All applicants to join the Guard will be required to take the oath of allegiance to the Crown before they are admitted to membership. “Members will carry out their training in the locality in which they reside and the time and place of parades will be fixed by the Home Guard Committee appointed by the local authority controlling their locality. Training will be carried out under leaders nominated by the committee, and district and area guard commanders will supply these leaders with all available information and data to help them with the training of their units. “The only time the Guard will ever be called up for service will be if there is an invasion or threat of invasion. Prior to such emergency arising, guardsmen will carry on with their civil occupations and attend parades at such time and place as their local committees may decide.

Emergency Precautions Scheme “The Emergency Precaution Volunteer Organisation,” added Colonel Aldred, “has been established to make provision in an emergency for the maintenance of law and order, the protection of property and maintenance of supplies and services essestial to the life of the community. It will not train its members to bear arms in the defence of their country. “All those men, therefore, over 16 years of age and otherwise eligible for membership, and who wish to commence training to bear arms in their country’s defence, should join the Home Guard. Those who desire to assist in the maintenance of the social and civil services should join the Emergency Precautions Volunteers. These organisations will cooperate with each other to the fullest extent and the committee of either organisation will accept enrolments for the other.”