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Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1941, Page 3

on Exchange’ WELLINGTON.

ecl t h in mem3 be re, with the other parts c 7 the military organisation under the command of the appropriate military authorities. j “The War Cabinet has laid down no j fixed establishment for the force,” Mr j Nash said. “It is probable that a force j of about 50,000 men will fulfil the j essential defence needs of the country. ) It is therefore proposed to divide the j existing membership into two divisions. Division 1 will consist of approximatej ly 50,000 all ranks fit for combat duties 5 and it will be equipped and trained as j quickly as possible. Division II will j consist of those remaining members . who have a reasonable standard of l' physical fitness. It will act as a reserve , for Division 1 and will be given such i training as may be possible with the j equipment available.” , The Minister said that international ‘ law did not recognise an armed body , as a duly constituted organisation un- ’ less it was led by properly commissioned officers. Without that recognition any body of armed men was liable to 1 be shot out of hand if captured by hos- ) tile troops. It was therefore intended that, .following the British practice, Home Guard officers would hold com- ) missioned rank. ) EQUIPMENT FOR GUARDSMEN. ) The scale of uniforms and equip--5 ment for the Home Guard had been j fixed by the War Cabinet, he continued. Each member of Division 1 would be issued as quickly as possible with one battle dress, one field service cap, ' one greatcoat, one pair of boots, one ’ set of web equipment, and two arm ' bands. For the present arm bands only 1 would be provided for members of Division 11. “The allocation of arms and ammunition will be controlled by the Chief of the General Staff,” the Min-: ister said. “In consultation with the Director-General of the Home Guard, initial issues will be made to all units | to fulfill their minimum training requirements and when this stage has been passed, priority will be given to operational needs.” Mr Nash detailed equipment already issued, including 6000 rifles fordrill, pull-throughs, oil-bottles, boots, ammunition and practice hand grenades. He said that very shortly there would be available some machine-guns, tommy-guns and trench mortars, and units would he hoped soon experience a considerable speeding up of issue. Already some units had been provided free of cost with offices and stores. Where sufficient accommodation was not available the Government would pay the cost of hire. “Apart from Government provision of clothing and equipment, and office and store accommodation there are a number of small items of expenditure which a voluntary organisation like the Home Guard cannot avoid and which it should not be expected to | meet out of its own pocket.” the Minister continued. “The types of expenditure the War Cabinet has in mind are the lease of halls for lecture and train- | ing purposes, the lighting of halls, offices and parade grounds, transport charges for special training exercises, unit stationery and postage, repairs to uniforms and personal equipment resulting from fair wear and tear and other approved items." INCREASED CAPITATION. The Minister also announced that the 4s capitation fee paid annually so far was totally insufficient. The War Cabinet had therefore decided to raise this grant immediately to £1 a member a year. This -would be paid quarterly, based on the membership of both divisions at the end of each preceding quarter, and would thus amount to about £lOO,OOO. Training of the Home Guard was also discussed by Mr Nash. He said that in general a high standard of weapon training and complete confidence in the weapons allotted must be achieved. A limited amount of drill and physical training was needed to inculcate pride of bearing and a reasonable standard of movement and I physical fitness. Training in the pre- j paration and passing of messages, the preparation and manning of defences, ■ the action of patrols and observations, and -in ability to carry out small , counter-attacks was obviously needed. . A great advantage the Home Guard j should have over any enemy was inti- [ mate local knowledge by day or night. | Finally, constant practice was needed j in rapidly answering the call to arms which in the event of an invasion ! might well occur in the middle of the < .night. Detailed instructions would be 'issued by the Chief of the General s Staff, in consultation with the director- j general of the Home Guard, but this training should be of absorbing interest and every endeavour would be made to make it so. SPECIAL COURSES. “Special courses will be arranged for selected personnel,” the Minister said “Some of these will take members away from their homes and their work for a short period, and I hope they will be given every facility to take advantage of the courses. Territorial rates of pay and allowances will be issued, and free transport, accommodation and rations will be provided.” Changes of Home Guard administration were outlined by Mr Nash. He announced that a Director-General at Army headquarters would be appointed to advise the Army Board on all matters relating to the Guard. The chain of control under the new system would run from Army , headquarters to military districts, to military areas, to Home Guard groups, to Home Guard battalions.

Auckland Gas £ *0 Sale Price. s 6 d 4 Goldsbrough Mort 1 8 6 Woolworths Ltd aO 17 3 *Late sale Wednesday, a Reported after last call. AUCKLAND. £ s d War Loan. 1/10/53 87 0 0 Inscr. Stock, 4 p.c.. 1943-46 102 15 0 Ditto, 4 p.c., 1952-55 106 10 0 Bank of New Zealand 1 19 0 National Insurance *0 19 0 Ditto 0 18 10 Huddart Parker 2 5 0 Northern Steam, paid *0 3 9 Aust. Consol. Industries .... 2 9 0 Electro. Zinc, ord 2 13 3 Ditto, rights S T 9 0 Reid Rubber, 7s 6d paid .... 0 11 6 Farmers’ Trading *1 1 4 Woolworths (N.Z.) 0 13 6 Grey River .... , 0 15 1 Mt. Lyell 1 7 0 Mt. Morgan 0 9 0 Unofficial list: — Una Hill 0 1 6 *Late sale Wednesday. CHRISTCHURCH. £ s d National Insurance 0 18 9 Sales reported:— Nat. Devel. Loan, 31 p.c. 1956-59 *99 10 0 National Insurance (2) 0 18 9 Dalgety and Co 6 5 0 Huddart. Parker 2 0 N.Z. Refrig., 10s paid 0 o 6 Mt. Lyell 1 7 3 *Late sale Wednesday. DUNEDIN. £ s d N.Z. Refrig.. 10s paid 0 o o Kaiapci Woollen, con 0 5 7 D.I.C.. ord 0 14 0