MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 242, 14 October 1942, Page 5

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

INQUIRY COMMITTEE'S REPORT. AMMUNITION POSITION VERY SATISFACTORY.

P.A.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 14.

The recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry of the War Council on the Home Guard, which have been considered by the Government and discussed with Generals Puttick and Young, were tabled in the House to-day by the Defence Minister, Mr Jones, vi^io made a statement on the matter and expressed his appreciation of the importance of the Home Guard in the defence of New Zealand. Dealing with the main features of the report, Mr Jones said that the proposal of the committee that battalions in areas most essential for defence should be given priority had been implemented to the extent of about 60 per cent. Supplies of ammunition were now very satisfactory; 75,000 uniforms and 83,000 pairs of boots had been issued; and stocks of grenades had been increased. The committee recommended that Home Guard units be allowed to manufacture their own radio sets, but that could only be undertaken under the strict supervision of the- Army authorities. The committee's recommendations regarding payment for parades would be met to some extent by arrangements which would reduce the ex~ penses incurred. Matters affecting the organisation of the Home Guard had also been the subject of action, and wherever possible transport arrangements would be improved and in the event of mobilisation any necessary transport would be available from the Lines of C ommunication . Home Guard motor transport could not be made available for widely separated units and sub-units for training purposes, but parades by smaller units and the consolidated training of men living at a distance would be adopted to ease the position.