HOME GUARD FINANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 298, 28 April 1941, Page 5

HOME GUARD FINANCE

DIFFICULTIES IN WHAKATANE AREA

SPIRITED EXCHANGE OF VIEWS

GALATEA UNIT NOT WANTED

The question of financing the Home Guard units within the area covered by the Whakatane County gave rise to a wide variety of vitews at the County Council meeting last week. The bombshell of the discussion was the complaint of Cr Cawte at the shabby treatment meted out to the members of the Galatea platoon, who had been forced* he claimed l , to leave Whakatane and link up with Rotorua against their own inclinations' and wishes. Reporting on a conference with members of the; Borough Council on the question of financing the needs of the Guard, the chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, said that as a result it had been Agreed to make the sum of £11 available on a 40-60 per cent basis from the Borough and County respectively. This would be given for a period of three months as from April 1, and it was hoped that it would tide over immediate requirements until such time as the Government decided on the Is per man grant, which was now under consideration. If the capitation on the basis of an 80 per cent parade attendance was provided the worries of the Home' Guard as far as finances were concerned would vanish. In answer to Cr Wardlaw's query as to the Allocation to country units the chairman explained that this would probably be done through the central executive on a membership basis. Cr Cawte's Complaint. In the Galatea district, Cr Cawte said that 350 Guardsmen had! been ordered by the local command' to be transferred to Rotorua. They had received nothing from tlia Whakatane headquarters and he was wondering in view of the fact that the men up to the present time, had met all their own "expenses personally, if the council coultd be prepared to make a grant as it> was oecoming something of a burden. Rotorua could not afford any assistance. Cr McGougan: What made you join up with Rotorua. Cr Cawte: We didn't do it' ourselves, wo were ordered to. Cr Luxton said he thought that the suggestion must have come from the districts themselves. Cr Cawte: No, definitely no! You will see our protests recorded on your minutes if you care to have a look. He added that delegates had also protested against the non-pay-ment of expenses by the central committee. The chairman thought that if To Whaiti. Ruataliuna and Galatea wore now included in the Rotorua area, it was up to that centre to meet their expenses. Cr Cawte: But we are still in the Whakatane County! The Chairman: You seem to be like the lost tribes. Cr Luxton said that if the secretary had sent in a written statement of the expenses incurred it would have been met. All branch secretaries had been asked to do this* Cr Cawte said he understood that there had been a verbal request. A Government Responsibility. Cr Luxton said it was impossible for the central committee to meet expenses without written statements being submitted. They were working under heavy difficulties. The Government refused to pay for the benzine required, and members were forced to look Co local bodies for their finance. The chairman asked Cr Cawte if there Avas any possibility of the unit coming back under the jurisdiction of the Whakatane area. Cr Cawte: No, Ave don't Avant to come back iioav. We are all organised under the' neAv control. We didn t Avant to leave but our protests Avere of no avail. The Chairman: Its difficult to make a transfer of funds. Cr CaAvte: That's Avhy I protested so hotly. Cr Luxton refuted the statement that there never had been any request for a statement of expenditure, declaring that this was, made jto a full meeting of delegates.

Grant of £5 Proposed. Cr Burt then moved that a grant of £5 be made to 1 the Galatea platoon, but this brought up the vexy forcible argument of precedent, members declaring that all districts Avould feql that they had a similar claim. The chairman agreed that the position Avas most difficult for while councillors sympathised Avith the men, they realised also that they OAved a duty to the ratepayers. Cr McCready: Aren't they ratepayers? The chairman: Yes but they ar? under a separate Home Guard headquarters. Forceful Criticism. "We heard the Government boasting of the 10©>0©0 members of the Home Guard," said Cr McCready, "but we didn't hear a word of the very poor effort being made to assist the new organisation. This is a time of national concern, and money should not be stinted. Mem are bandied from pillar to post, not I wanted! by this unit or that —all because the Government refuses to allow money for travelling. What is money when we are face to face with things as they are to-day. If we are to take notice of this threat of the 'lend and lease' suggestion from Japan to the Axis powers there lis something wanted done at once' —and yet here the authorities are asleep. The enthusiasm of the men is very good indeed'. Yet the Minis tetr refers the responsibility of financing this garrison army to the local bodies. It's a terrible state of affairs." ■ Cr McCready mentioned also the EJP.S. and asked Avhat Avas going to happen to that organisation in the eA r ent of an emergency if there Avas going to be this haggling, over a, few shillings. He definitely thought that the Government had to be Avakened up. The boast of 100,000 men organised under the Government Avas only a hol'low mockery. Gr MoGougan: I object. It is not a hollow mockery. The Home Guard may have its faults, but criticism at a time like this is not going to help us. Cr McCready said that Cr McGougan had! taken him up wrongly again. He Avas not critioising the Guard, but the action of the Government in leaving it bereft of funds to perfect its organisation. Grant Rejected. Referring to the proposal of a grant to Galatea, Cr McGougan said he objected. All districts should be put on the same footing. He Avas not against assisting Galatqa but considered any special assistance from the County funds ,as unfair. Cr Cawte pointed out that Galatea noAv had no chance of participating in the allocation of the £11 recently voted as it Avas out' of the Whakatane Home Guard district. Cr McGougan: But I don't knoAV lioav you got there ? Cr Cawte: Neither do I. W-: Averen't asked to go. We Avere pushed there. Cr Cawte then said he had listened to the remarks and in vieAV of everything would not' press for an allocation at all. The Galatea men had already levied 5s per man on themselves and Avould rather find a further extra half crown. Question of Organisation. Cr Luxton said that Galatea had reaped an initial benefit from the early organisation of the scheme. All districts had benefited in this respect. Gr Cawte: I did all the organising myself. Cr McCready: Does the committee take into consideration the distance travelled by men in some districts, and pay out accordingly ? The chairman said he expected all sides of the question Avere considered. Gr Luxton: Referring to the transfer of the Galatea platoon, I can only say this, the local Commander has the power to do this and afterAvards submitting his action to tke committee. On the suggestion of the; chairman, Avho said that no good Avould come of a prolonged debate, ths matter Avas dropped l .