THE E.P.S.O.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 68, 22 June 1942, Page 4

THE E.P.S.O.

tions regarding possible military depositions but as he will bear out the text of the letter is complete. E f l.)

Sir, —With regard to my reported! criticism of the "management of the Home Guard and the slowness of its development,*'' may I assure my many Home Guard friends that I definitely was riot referring to our local units (or any others for that matter) but rather to the ial attitude, administration, and " handling of Home Guard affairs. That criticism is warranted, is borne out by an article in to-day's (Xune 18th issue) of the N.Z. Her-* aid, under the heading of "Home Guard." It is only at this belaj*#d; Yiour, after nearly six months of w&f with. Japan—war almost reaching to <>*"? own shores—that it is deemed sary to make it compulsory for ail men within the age group to. join the Home Guard. Does the policy that it "is neither necessary nor .practical'" to arm these men, on whom, Col. Dawe stated at the E.P.S.O. meeting "will depend the defence of the area" still hold? No doubt such is not the case, as arms and equipment have been promised for some time. But how effective will these promises be against an enemy fully armed with modern weapons? Given time, no doubt the position will improve, with increased strength, and additional training with equipment as it comes to hand. As for the time required, it would probably an interesting equation, taking into account the length of time the Home Guard has been in existence, the promises made to it (and Jjroken), equipment received, and current promises. Probably, with more tims- (or equipment as you wish) the story of France, Greece, * Crete, Singapore and Burma would have been quite different. At the E.P.S.O. meeting Col. Dawe stated: There are no military objectives in the Bay: any enemy landing would be with the object of making a "back door"' thrust at Auckland. He also stated that in his opinion there is little or no ned for any E.P.S.O. in the Rangitaiki district; this, latter seems to imply there is no likelihood of any such landing in this area; yet Col. Dawe has his military dispositions already prepared in the district. If the military precaution is advisable, why not a similar measure for the pro* tection of the women and children —wives and daughters of . Home Guardsmen in the area—one which, by the Avay, would undoubtedly be subjected to action by both the defending and invading forces? With regard to evacuation, it is obviously the Army view that no ether body is capable of organising either transport or supply: if the Army can come into the Bay, and feed itself, would it be impossible for the women and children, with, sufficient help to go out of the district and do likewise? In any case, so far as my own daughter is concerned, I would rather risk it, than > leave her in the path of the invader. Have either the military or civil authorities considered how other fathers, Home 'Guardsmen or otherwise would react? We know that military roads must not be "cluttered up" with refugees, but at the E.P.S.O. meeting all members of the. County Council apparently forgot the "evacuation routej'" already prepared to serve the district. With regard to myself' and my position as District Warden, Transport Section, E.P.S.O 1 . I*was transferred from the Home Guard to serve in this section. As ,there ap- ' pears t& be little call for transport under present conditions, and in any case my is inoperative through lack of 'personnel, I have resigned my .position as Warden..! have re-enrolled in the Home (fuard under the recent regulations, and await the . outcome. v 3 f'Yours etc., , ,<-7, a. w. ward. (We T?a~ve to thank our -correspondent £pr his elucidation of what is probablyl a? general guagQ of theJ feeling-oL most E.P.S. wardens who attendedm&nday's meeting. One or two. itejns have> been deleted in ao» cordance with censorsfeig regula(Continued in' previous column)