THE HOME GUARD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 30, 18 March 1942, Page 5

THE HOME GUARD

QUESTION OF EQUIPMENT REPRESENTATIONS TO GOVERNMENT Local body representatives from all centres in the Bay of Plenty attended' a special meeting in the Whakatane County Council Chambers for the purpose of discussing the question of equipping the Home Guard, and of manufacturing weapons and! munitions within the area by way of co-operating with the Government's war effort. The Mayor of Whakatane, Mr B. S. Barry, occupied the chair. The Mayors ol' Rotorua, Tauranga, To Puke and Opotiki Avere present together Avith the chairman of the Mount Town Board, the chairman of the Tauranga County Council and the deputy-chairman of the AVhakatane County. The meeting discussed at length the necessity of arming the Guard at the shortest possible moment, with the idea of enabling them to give protection to their homes and womenfolk. It Avas felt that industry could be utilised within the refb*pectiAre localities for the purpose of providing arms and explosive Aveapons, to meet any possible onslaught. Strongly Avorded resolutions Avere passed calling upon the Government to provide equipment and also to utilise local industry to the greatest possible extent for the purpose of producing equipment. A deputation comprising the Mayors of Whakatane, Tauranga Opotiki, Rotorua and Te Puke Avas set up for the purpose of Avaiting on the Prime Minister and stressing the points' submitted.

Since the meeting the .Prime Minister has agreed to come as far north ns Hamilton, Avhere he will meet the deputation and also make an inspection el the types of home-made equipment which have already been perfected.

Youngest Home Guardsmen "Attention! Eyes Right, Eyes Front, Stand at Ease." The orders, given in a strong Sergeant-Major falsetto, attracted considerable attention in the Whakatanc Domain last Saturday, when a detachment c>r two of tlie local Home Guard were undergoing field practice. The oldtimers, full of curiosity, traced the orders to their source, and were surprised to find a group of a dozen young boj'S being smartly put through their paces by a self-ap-pointed N.C.O. The boys acquitted themselves, well, and in the opinion of the onlookers were shaping promisingly.