THE HOME GUARD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 246, 6 December 1940, Page 5

THE HOME GUARD

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT ON TRAIN ING SUGGESTION ■ "NOT FOR HARVESTING" Shortly after assuming office as chairman of the newly-formed Whakatane Home Guard executive committee, Mr F. W, K. Raymond referred to the suggestion recently made that town members of the) Guard should assist farmers in their harvesting, thereby securing physical training and at the same time contributing materially towards the solution of the farm labour shortage.

"No doubt you all read the leading article in the Press which suggested that Home Guardsmen should help farmers with haymaking in order to get physical training,"' he said 1 , and Mr F. J. Burt, a committee . man, interjected, "Yes, a jolly good idea.'* "Well, while the re- i porter is here, I will say that the Home Guard is for defence andi nothing else —certainly not for harvesting,** said Mr Raymond. "If a suggestion like that is made you cannot blame the Press for taking it up," 1 a member of the mittee protested. There was no discussion. SOME CONFUSION OBLIGATIONS OF GUARDSMEN During question time at the Home Guard executive committee's meeting on Tuesday night Mr F. J. Reynolds said there was some confusion on the point of Guardsmens' obligations for service overseas. When the Home Guard, by proclamation, was merged with the military forces, could members be ordered overseas? Major J. H. Herrold, Area Commander, said that no man could be taken from New Zealand unless he j took a further oath, the chairman, j Mr F. W. K. Raymond., adding, "The name 'Home Guard' is self-explana-tory."