SOLID START

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21259, 1 November 1940, Page 8

SOLID START

HOME GUARD RECRUITS RESERVE CLASSES JOIN HAMILTON AREA PLANS Home Guard recruiting in Hamilton received a solid start at the weekly parade last night of classes I. and 111. of the National Military Reserve, when nearly every man of the 90 or so on parade filled in the enrolment form and was attested. This followed an informal talk by Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. McFarland. Guard Commander, Nc. 4 Military district, on the aims and organisation of the Guard. It is expected that the two classes of the Reserve will be in practice merge into the Home Guard, while continuing “on paper" to belong to the Reserve. Until recruiting and parade plans for the Home Guard are completed in Hamilton, the men of classes I. and 111., about 120 in number, will continue their weekly parades, which have been under the command of Captain S. N. Ziman. Administration and Work The Home Guard would be the civilian fighting force, said Lieuten-ant-Colonel McFarland. It would serve only in New Zealand and would be called up only in the event of invasion or threat of invasion. The local committees appointee would divide their areas into localities. The committee would nominate unit commanders and the localities elect leaders. With the growth of numbers there would be formed platoons, companies and battalions. Officers would be appointed from the guardsmen. Training work would include drill, entrenchments, attacking and defending localities, obstruction of roads, camouflage, first aid, messages and signalling, and so on. Lieutenant-Colonel McFarland said that for the area, which extended from Mercer to Taumarunui and embraced 17 local authorities, he had been fortunate in securing the services as instructors of three or four returned soldiers. Cylostyled programmes of work would be issued to locality leaders. As organisation would occupy the next month or so, it would be some weeks before anything but elementary training could be undertaken. Absence of Compulsion Answering a number of questions. Lieutenant-Colonel McFarland said he thought camps were out of the question, owing to the cost, the interference with civil occupations, and for other reasons. No medical examination would be necessary, and as far as he knew there would be no compulsion to attend parades. The Hamilton Home Guard Committee, said Lieutenant-Colonel McFarland, would in a few days nominate a unit commander for Hamilton and put recruiting under way. Appealing to the men to join up and in duce others to do so, he said a powerful Home Defence force was the biggest discouragement to an enemy The Home Guard had every possibility of growing into a strong and powerful body. Speakers among the men paid tributes to Major L. E. Haines, D. 5.0., officer commanding the 6th Hamilton Company of the National Military Reserve, and Captain Ziman, who intimated that he would not be able, as an officer of a mobilised unit, to continue his work with classes I. and 111. Both officers were given cheers. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE STATE AND LOCAL BODY MEN (By Telegraph.—PreM association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The position of State and local body employees who desire to serve in the Emergency Reserve Corps and who are engaged in essential occupations was referred to by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, to-day. The Minister said it had been decided that all State and local body employees who desired to join might do so, but the enrolment of those in essential occupations would be accepted only upon the distinct understanding that if an emergency should arise they must immediately report for duty to their department or local authority. Briefly, said the Minister, the classes of employees indicated were free to join, but certain individuals engaged in essential services might be detailed to special units.