CONCERN EXPRESSED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 270, 12 February 1941, Page 5

CONCERN EXPRESSED

KEY MEN IN EMERGENCY SCHEME * SOME JOIN UP WITH HOME GUARD The fact that many key men in the Emergency Precautions Scheme are also members of the Home Guard oh the National Military Reserve, is causing some members of the Emergency Precautions Committee a good deal of concern and has led; to a considerable amount of confusion. Several references to the subject were made at the conference in Tauranga fast week to discuss means of co-ordinating the various district efforts under the scheme, and the need for key men remaining with the Emergency Precautions Scheme was stressed by several speakers.

One of the questions raised was whether the Home Guard would take complete control of the scheme in the event o£' an emergency, and it was stated by the secretary (Mr J. R. Chambers) that he had been informed by the Director of National Service, that the .Home Guard had no control whatever over the Emergency Precautions Committee

It Avas stated by Mr S. W. Gun ton that in his district and In several other ridings practically every man had joined the Home Guard, and he would like to know Avhat their position would be in relation to the Emergency Precautions Scheme. The members of the County Council had been appointed Avardens under the scheme and yet some of them Avere officers in the Home Guard? What was their position?

The secretary said that if they

liad joined the Home Guard they could not belong to this organisa-

tion, but his own view was that the members of the county) council should all come under the Emergency Precautions Scheme, In the event of an emergency the Emergency Precautions Committee would have to take over the functions of all the local bodies. There was nothing to stop these men training with the Home Guard, but if an emergency arose they would be needed under the schemc.

The need for the key men staying with the Emergency Precautions Scheme" was also stressed by Mr A. J. Mirrielees.

Nothing definite arose out of the discussion, but it was stated that in the event of key men remaining in the Home Guard or the National Military Reserve substitutes would have to be appointed.