HOME GUARD to BENEFIT

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 106, 23 January 1942, Page 4

HOME GUARD to BENEFIT

All Profits from “Camp News,” “War Wit” and “Home Defence Weekly” to go to Blanket and Mess Gear Fund.

Already Home Defence units are indebted to Mr. W. Stewart, of Messrs. Stewart, Lawrence & Co., Ltd., for the time, energy and money he sacrificed in working for nine months to establish “Home Defence Weekly.”

That he believed in both the need for and the value of Home Defence

units is convincingly demonstrated by the practical efforts and sacrifices he

has made in their interests

Further evidence of his belief in our cause and of his generosity is

forthcoming in the shape of a generous offer which he has now made to Lt.-Col. D. G. Johnston, Group Director.

In a letter to the Group Director Mr. Stewart has offered to donate his monthly profits from the publications he publishes to a Blanket and Mess Gear Fund for the Home Guard Battalions in No. 5 Group (Wellington area) for the duration of the war.

These publications are:— “War Wit.” “Home Defence Weekly.” “Camp News.” , ■'//;’ j ;“Horological Journal.”

The only conditions Mr. Stewart makes are as follows:—

1. That a committee will be appointed by the Group Director with a representative from each of the Battalions in the Group, and this committee shall be held responsible to see that the money received is used only for the purpose for which it is donated.

2. That the money be distributed on a pro rata basis, based on the subscriptions made by the Battalions to “Home Defence Weekly”

3. This offer is to come into operation on Ist February, 1942.

The Group Director. Lt.-Col. D. G. Johnston, has agreed on behalf of the Home Guardsmen under his command

to accept this very generous offer of Messrs. Stewart, Lawrence & Co., Ltd., and to appoint a committee representative of all battalions of Home Guard under his command and to himself act as chairman of this committee.

He also wishes to express on behalf of all Home Guardsmen sincere and heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Stewart for his very generous and patriotic donation to our cause.

Mr. Stewart states that he was prompted to make this offer because of the very fine spirit displayed by Home Guardsmen and because of the poor response made by the public to the Mayor’s urgent appeal for blankets . and mess gear for the Home Guard.

The people of New Zealand do not appear to realize that the manufacturing resources of the country are at present taxed to the limit of their resources and in the present position the only other means of supplying the essentials for Home Defence Units is by the people sacrificing some of the manufactured products instantly available in their own homes.

In view of this fact it is to be hoped that Mr. Stewart’s offer will be made widely known that others may thereby be inspired to in some way follow his example.

They could do this by addressing such contributions in goods required. That ’ is: blankets, pots, billy-cans, cooking utensils, enamel or tin plates or mugs, haversacks, or cash, to

The Blanket and Mess Gear Fund, No. 5 Group Headquarters, Home Guard, Featherston Chambers, Featherston Street, City.

If members of the Home Guard, E.P.S., Red Cross, W.W.S.A. or other Home Defence or allied units can increase the subscribers to the following publications:—

“War Wit,”

“Home Defence,”

or persuade any friend to make a direct contribution in goods required or cash they will be making a contribution to the Home Guard Blanket and Mess Gear Fund and demonstrating in a practical manner their appreciation of Mr. Stewart’s generous and timely donation. BLANKETS are most urgently required for Home Guardsmen on NIGHT DUTY PICQUETS.

(Signed) Committee of Control,

“Home Defence Weekly”