THE HOME GUARD

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 6

THE HOME GUARD

LIABILITY TO MILITARY SERVICE " ONLY IF M ARE INVADED " MR SEMPLE MAKES POSITION CItAR [Special to the ' Star.’] WELLINGTON, September 11. Although there has been splendid Dominion-wide response by New Zealanders of non-military ago to the invitation to make themselves fit for useful national service through the medium of tho Home Guard, some doubts have arisen regarding tho scope of the responsibility. It has been suggested—and the points were put to the Hon. B. Semple (Minister of National Service) in an interview to-day—that many men who are doing useful, and often responsible, work in their usual sphere might be taken away to perform comparatively unimportant guard duties under military discipline, as they are required to take the oath of allegiance. “ J can answer that in a second.” declared Mr Semple. “There need be no fears whatever of the creation of the Home Guard interfering with the activities of business or production. Drilling will be carried on at such places and times as will not interfere with business of any sort. Common-sense methods will be applied, and Home Guard training will be done at times which will be fixed by local arrangement to suit the varving conditions of different districts. 'There are to be no stereotyped orders, but sufficient elasticity so‘ that we can give the Home Guard men the opportunity of training without interference with their business or land production in any sense. “ As a matter of fact, I am satisfied, continued Mr Semple, “ that if the people of this country were organised as they should be, to meet together, rub shoulders, and create the comradeship which the Home Guard will develop, it will have a stimulating effect on all our civilian effort. A united community can do an immensely better job than one which is disunited. “ The onlv moment for giving orders of the kind mentioned,” said the Minister emphatically, “ would be if our country was invaded, and nothing would be done without an Order in Council. At such a stage, not only our occupations, but our very lives, would he in danger, and defence of our homes and farms would come first with every man. But until that time comes—and God forbid that it ever will—everything must ho done to keep production and business of all kinds in full swing.”