HOME DEFENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 23700, 7 October 1940, Page 4

HOME DEFENCE.

When the organisation of the Home Guard has been completed New Zealand will have four distinct groups of land troops in active working order—tho J’.xpeditionary Force, tho Territorials, the National Reserve, and the Homo Guard. Thus a wide range of service will be offered to the man power of tho Dominion, and it should not be difficult lor the average man to liud a suitable niche in which ho may contribute to tho national war effort. A particularly lucid statement on the arrangements being followed for the training of the Home Guard has just been made by the Otago district commander of this unit, Lieu-tenant-colonel A. S. Rruce Smith, who left to-day on an organising tour of Central Otago. Hitherto, prospective recruits for the guard have been only vaguely aware of what will be required of them, and, though obviously much remains to be done, the further light that has been thrown on the plans should act as a direct encouragement. The proscribed training on military lines, constituting a form of apprenticeship, as it wore, to more conspicuous service in khaki, should have its attractions as well as its uses, and an inducc-

mont is offered to youths of from 10 years of age to play their part in Empire defence. Such an outlet for energy and keenness should have great value in building up tho health and strength of our young manhood. At the same time it should open up possibilities for men appproaching tho veteran stage, and, indeed, for all those not eligible for service in the other three groups. Jn the Territorial field progress has been marked in recent months. According to the Minister of Defence (tho Hon. E. Jones), tho whole Army for guarding New Zealand’s shores is being placed on a footing both in organisation and training that will facilitate a smooth ami rapid change-over should mobilisation become necessary. The important appointments that have been announced, together with the decision that the commanders and their principal staff officers should! hold their positions during the peace which New Zealanders still enjoy at home in order to enable them to study the tactical and administrative problems with which they might he faced in a time of action, are tantamount to placing the Dominion on a full war footing, hi view of tho uncertainty of the position in the Pacific this is a very desirable procedure. The maintenance of 50,000 trained men in New Zealand at all times during the war would he by no means going too far in planning for home defence. Tho statement of Mr Jones that no effort is being spared to secure more modern equipment of every description to supplement or replace that at present available will receive an especially warm welcome. Adequate fire power is just us necessary as adequate man power. In point of fact the one, faced with aggression to-day, is of very little use without tho other.