PETROL SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1941, Page 4

PETROL SUPPLIES

POSITION OF HOME GUARD. COUNTY COUNCILLORS TAKE EXCEPTION. Reference to the action of the Government in cutting off the supplies of benzine to members of the Home Guard was made at yesterday’s meeting of the Mauriceville County Council. Councillors took strong exception to this action, in that the Government had so often referred to the Home Guard as being the first line of defence and Ministers of the Crown had always referred most highly to the services of members of the Home Guard. In view of the serious position with which the country was now faced the council expressed the opinion that supplies of benzine to private car owners should first have been cut before any reduction was made to members of the Home Guard. The opinion was also expressed that had supplies to private car owners been cut, and the position arose when supplies could not be made available to members of the Home Guard, then such members would have considered it their duty to attend parades even if they had to walk. Reference was made to the great amount of work put in by country members of the Home Guard and the opinion was stated that it would appear that this work was not appreciated.