UNDER ARMY CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 155, 15 September 1941, Page 6

UNDER ARMY CONTROL

PLANS FOR HOME GUARD

EQUIPMENT AND STATUS

NO PAYMENT FOR PARADES

Effects of the transfer of the Hime Guard from the National Service Department to the Army Department are now becoming known as the result of a great deal of reorganisation which has been carried out in recent weeks to meet new requirements. It is clear that the Home Guard will conduct its own administration., but that its operational control and training will be under the supervision of the army.

Under the new organisation each district has 1 an officer known as the district director, and each district is divided into groups corresponding with the military areas. In each of the groups there is a group director and both district director and group director will have for their assistance a full-time Army staff officer. The district staff officer will maintain close contact with the military district headquarters. In turn, the

group directors' adjutant and quartermaster will' keep in touch with the military area headquarters. Additional staff officers are to be appointed to military districts and areas for Home Guard duties.

As a result of the number of Home Guardsmen required for the country's defence plan being less than the number of guardsmen already in units, some reorganisation of battalions will probably be necessary. Every effort is being made to retain existing units, but a certain amount of overlapping has followed from the Home Guard being adapted to the defence plan. A basis of reorganisation involving as few changes as possible has been drawn up by the military district headquarters find referred to the district director of the Home Guard, and it is considered likely that this reorganisation will be in operation in the near

future. It was stated that those l eligible to join the Home Guard were men over 45 years of agei, those not passed fit for overseas service owing to *»me defect, men with family obli* gations and others in certain reserved occupations. Youths from. 16 to 18 were also accepted, but would have to serve in Division 11., the guard being formed into two divisons as a result of the new organisation. Under the new system the guardsfnen have the same status as terri-

torials, except that they will not receive payment for parades. However, members attending courses of Instruction are to- be paid according to rank, as in the Territorial Force.

Issues of clothing and equipment are to be made as supplies become available. Some of the equipment has arrived in Auckland, as also have several thousand pairs of boots, and an issue is expected to be made shortly. It is stated that uniforms will next be supplied to the guardsmen.

VOLUNTARY ACTION IN CANADA Canadian motorists are sharply cutting their consumption of motor oil ajnd petrol at the request of the Government. To effect 50 per cent reduction recently declared necessary by the Oil Controller, motorists throughout the Dominion are driving less and operating cars more efficiently. They are no longer able to buy motor oil or pcitrol on Sundays or at night on week days. The diversion of tankers to Britain and the increasing demands the Canadian war programme make this necessary. Canada is the fifth oil consuming country in the world, but imports 85 per cent of the supply. Most imported oil comes by tanker from the United States and South America. It has been necessary to divert to Britain tankers normally supplying Canada* and Eastern United State:;. This has causcd serious reduction in the stocks of petroleum products in Canada. In addition, oil and petrol arc needed in much increasing quantities tc> supply the British and Can-

adian Navies and the Dominion's army, air force and war industry. The Oil Cbntroller has stated that he is, satisfied with the results of the first two weeks of self-imposed rationing by Canadian motorists.