EMERGENCY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 215, 20 September 1940, Page 5

EMERGENCY

SCHEME FOR HOME DEFENCE COUNTY COUNCIL'S WORK An address on the scheme formulated by the County authorities to meet any possible emergency which may arise out of the war was given to the Taneatua ratepayers by the County Chairman. Mr J. L. Burnett, last Tuesday evening. Mr Burnett gave all the information at his disposal, and it is safe to say that district farmers as a whole will give the movement all the support they possibly can under the circumstances. "The council," said Mr Burnett, "was concerned not merely with the formation of the garrison unit, known as the 'Home Guard,' but with all phases of emergency precautions. There were a hundred and one things which had to be considered apart from the actual fighting against a possible invader and it was hoped to find a position for every one in the capacity best suited to them. The congestion of the roads with refugees fleeing from the invaded portions of France had illustrated the folly of haphazard ganisation. The military movements had been paralysed and the collapse of the nation followed inevitably, It was in order to avoid this lype of thing in New Zealand that the precautions had been made. There was for instance, the control of traffic, the care of the aged and children, care of the sick and the provision of an admintstrative staff to control the new regulations which would come into force. To be Prepared'. Men from sixteen years upwards were invited to fill in the forms which all county representatives pos strsed. Those in the Home Guard would not. be given arms or uniforms, though in the latter instance it Avas possible that a distinguishing armlet or badge would be issued. It had been pointed out to the military authorities that in the event of a combatant being captured, who was hot wearing uniform, he could be summarily shot under the terms of the Hague convention. X,he military authorities were therefore prepared upon the outbreak of open hos-filities within these shores to automatically take over the control of the Guard.

The Women's Auxiliary which was just as important as any.of the other branches would be required to attend to the nursing, cooking and first aid. In fact there was a job for allDealing with the Home Guard again, he said that members would be required for periodical drills and in the rural areas these parades would be worked in as well as possible with the milking operations. The actual training scheme had. not been introduced as yet, but MajorGeneral Young, the newly appointed G.O.C. would shortly be appointing headquarters in each district and sub<listrict. Mr Burnett concluded that he only hoped it would never be necessary to bring the scheme into active reality, but nevertheless in view of the state of the world to-day it behoved the people of this country to be well prepared. ' Mr Ruddick mentioned the difficulty of increasing production if farmers were expected to train for military service aS well. Administer a Thrashing. Mr Burnett: The parades would probably be at night. Mr Prince: What form is this drill going to take? Is the average cowcocky going to get practical' experience or is he merely going along to do physical jerks? Mr Burnett: The whole thing will be upon a voluntary basis. Nothing will be enforced. I know that the R.S.A. is a little indignant that they cannot carry on where they left oft last .time but times have chaTiged and military drill is not what it used to be. It is difficult to know just what the scheme will be until it is released. Mr MeCready said the petrol rationing would make it doubly hard for farmers to travel to a training centre and unless the Government was prepared to make some provision the scheme could not be expected to succeed. Mr Burnett did not think he could hold out any hope in this direction. Mr Bradshaw asked if small groups of farmers in isolated districts trained together, would this answer the scheme. Mr Burnett replied that he thought it would.

"But what are we expected to do if Ave aren't armed to repel the enemy l —go into the bush and cut supple-jacks to thrash them to death with?" asked Mr McCrgady. A Voice; "They're afraid to let us have rifles as we might sliobt the Government." The meeting warmly endorsed the scheme and promised that all possible would be done to further the training, when it Avas introduced.