DIRECTOR OF HOME GUARD

Southland Times, Issue 24870, 9 October 1942, Page 4

DIRECTOR OF HOME GUARD

Retention Of Services Urged “The committee feels that before the matter is brought to finality some effort should be made to retain the services of Lieutenant-Colonel Bell.” This motion was carried at a meeting of the Invercargill Home Guard Citizens’ Committee called to consider the decision of Lieutenant-Colonel W. Bell to ask to be relieved of his position of director of No. 12 Home Guard Group because of pending changes in the control of the Guard. In a statement issued after the meeting the committee expressed the opinion that Lieutenant-Colonel Bell’s decision to submit his resignation was “the more regrettable in view of the enormous background of work carried out by him in organizing the Home Guard in Southland from the start to its present state of efficiency and that this went foarward impelled by the needs of the moment without thought of reward or return. The committee is also in receipt of expressions of deep regret from many country units who are loud in their praise of the work carried out by him.” DIRECTOR OF 12A GROUP A statement issued by LieutenantColonel E. F. Selby, director of No. 12A Home Guard Group, states that he resigned his appointment because of lack of time to carry out efficiently the duties of Group Director and at the same time continue his civilian occupation. If there was any proposed change in Home Guard groups, that was a matter for the Army but, so far he had not received from the Army 'official advice of any such change.