Equipment of Home Guard Will be Completed Shortly

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1942, Page 2

Equipment of Home Guard Will be Completed Shortly

Arrangements for the equipment of the Home Guard in the Taranaki area are well in hand, it was stated-at New Plymouth on Saturday by Colonel F. M. Foster, N.Z.S.C., officer commanding the central military district. Uniforms are almost 100 per cent., and a pair of boots are available for every Home Guardsman. A full supply of other equipment will be issued within a month. Colonel Foster, accompanied by Lieut.Colonel W. G. Bassett, had just completed an inspection of Taranaki's defences and a reconnaissance of the area by car and by air. He and Lieut-Colonel Bassett were scheduled to leave Hawera for Wellington on Saturday afternoon. During his visit Colonel Foster lnspected a territorial unit and watched its training. He also met Home Guard unit commanders at New Plymouth and in Hawera when many matters of mutual interest were discussed. Visits to Home Guard training centres, including the Hawera branch of the area school, were paid by Colonel Foster. He expressed himself as very pleased with the type and efficiency of the training and the keenness of the individual Home Guardsmen. He gave an assurance that every consideration would be given by central military district headquarters for increased facilities for Home Guard training in Taranaki. Matters of general policy to ensure the best possible co-operation between the Emergency Precautions Service and the army were also discussed, and Colonel Foster praised the efficient organisation of the E.P.S. in the district.