The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1942 THE AMY'S CINDERELLA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 70, 26 June 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1942 THE AMY'S CINDERELLA

ONE hundred and forty-six men drawn in the last ballot, from this district will constitute yet another serious incursion into the ranks of the steadily diminishing Home Guard. How many of us have endeavoured to get the wider view of what is happening by this consistent bleeding of a body of men which is officially recognised as a first line of defence in the event of emergency. It would appear that 'Army' to use the popular term which has been coined to cover our military authorities, demands that all Home Guard Battalions be built up to requisite strength and then in the next breath, demands (equally as firmly) that the guard must provide material for each successive ballot. The whole position is absurd as it is impossible and furthermore heartbreaking to those who have devoted time and money to the building up of local Home Guard units and consistently training their personnel. The continual undermining of industry and commerce as a result of the ballots is too widely recognised to need any further emphasis here,, but if the Government is prepared to go on blindly drawing men. away from productive channels by appropriating them for military training the "show down" as we have already pointed out is not far off. Let us study the question further with a view to discovering a solution —surely in the first place it would be maintaining industry and economic stability to retain all men in the Home Guard and merely intensify their training by placing them under direct military control. Parades under resident officers every night (if so desired) and certainly every week-end. This would save over crowding the already inadequate military camps and would ensure a disciplined and trained civilian army without the usual expense. The greatest virtues are however to be found, in having the men on the spot—not merely segregated in distant military camps, but armed, trained and ready for service at a moment's notice. Here are a few of the points which occur to us by the retention and strengthening of the Home Guard (a) New Zealand would be ringed by a buffer line of defence. Irrespective of where an enemy might seek to land the militia force could be ready to give battle at a moment's notice—limited opposition we admit, but nevertheless vastly preferable to none for they would sound the ala,rm. (b) The men of the guard would then be fighting over country with which they were fully conversant —a distinct advantage. over the enemy and even over a Dominion military force sent to the scene of action from other parts. (c) Each man would be directly fighting for his own home and family which would automatically make the morale of the defenders one hundred per cent. The above should serve to indicate the usefulness of even a small force of men under emergency circumstances, which to our mind is eminently preferable to an unopposed surprise landing which would allow the enemy to consolidate his ground before the more cumbersome military machine was set in motion to meet him. It is no secret to say that the Home Guard after being scorned by 'Army' for two years and then grudgingly recognised, is still regarded as an existing but necessary evil, which has to be put up with, but which can be regarded as legitimate plunder whenever more material is required. We bow to 'Army's' dictates in this respect in view of the seriousness of the situation but at the same time would like to point out that the Guard is the only truly voluntary force existing in the country to-day and if it was not for the high morale of its members it would have long ago disintegrated under the studied rebuffs it has received at the hands of those who should, have lent it the greatest encouragement.