WATCH FOR TRAITORS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21223, 20 September 1940, Page 7

WATCH FOR TRAITORS

VALUE OF HOME GUARD PROTECT LIFE AND LIBERTY FOSTER COMRADESHIP (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON. Thursday Discussing the formation of the Home Guard, the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, said the only reason it was created was to protect the lives, property and liberty of our people. It had been said the Government was creating a Fascist organisation. That was deliberate misrepresentation. An organised nation could discover where traitors were and put them out of action. A disorganised country was fertile ground for a traitor, a term he preferred to “fifth columnist.” Every country in the world today had a percentage of traitors and New Zealand was no exception. The Home Guard would serve to bring New Zealand people closer together, said Mr Semple. “Even if there is no need to use the Home Guard in the defence of the country, and God forbid we should, we shall be a better nation for having rubbed shoulders together and created a better understanding of one another in true tolerance and comradeship.”

Referring to the vanquished countries, Mr Semple said every vestige of liberty in them had been wiped out, and if the British Empire fell we had to face the same fate. “But the British Empire will never fail,” he declared. “ ‘There’ll always be an England.’ ” TOBACCO FOR TROOPS THEIR FAVOURITE BRANDS NEW SYSTEM FOR GIFTS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday After the despatch of Christmas gift parcels for men of the New Zealand fighting forces overseas under the National Patriotic Fund Board’s unaddressed gift-parcels scheme, it has been decided by the board to institute a new system of sending tobacco and cigarettes which should assist in ensuring that individual tastes of men will be more nearly met. The board decided at a meeting today to obtain from canteens at the training camps in New Zealand particulars showing the popularity of various brands of tobacco and cigarettes with the men in the camps and then to buy in accordance with the preference shown and send cigarettes and tobacco overseas in bulk. The purchasing will be done by the National Patriotic Fund Board and Provincial Councils will be asked to provide the necessary funds. The decision was made by the board following a recommendation from the conference of provincial council secretaries. NAVAL RESERVISTS 36 LEAVE DOMINION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The additional 36 New Zealand '•andidates have left the Dominion to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Imperial), in accordance with he system of special entry. Ten of them were selected in terms of scheme A, which is for candidates between 30 and 40 with certain stipulated qualifications. The remainder came under scheme B, which is for candidates between 20 and 25, and between 25 and 30 with matriculation. GARMENTS AND BLANKETS DESPATCH BY GIRL GUIDES The New Zealand Girl Guides have packed and forwarded to their London headquarters another six cases of garments to be distributed to refugee children in England. Altogether 1000 garments and 150 woollen blankets were dispatched this time, the value being approximately £3OO. Brownie, Guides and Rangers had shared in the sewing and to many of the garments were attached small notes carrying messages of “Love and best wishes for happier times from the New Zealand Girl Guides.’ STAFF POST OFFERED CHANGE FOR Y.M.C.A. MAN (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday Advice has been received by the National Patriotic Fund Board that Mr Victor C. Jones, who was general secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in Wellington before he left for overseas with the New Zealand Forces, and who has been acting as the board’s representative in Egypt, has been offered an appointment as a staff captain with the British Forces. Appreciation of Mr Jones’ service was expressed by the board at its meeting to-day. It was decided to appoint Mr F. E. Long, another Y.M.C.A. secretary, to ict as the board’s representative in Egypt until the board’s commissioner, Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, arrives there. PATRIOTIC FUND GRANTS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The National Patriotic Fund Board at a meeting to-day made a grant of £2OOO for its work in Great Britain among women’s war organisations. Approval was given to the provision of a recreation hut for fortress troops at Motutapu Island, Auckland. A grant was made to the Navy OiTire for the purchase oi naval comforts for Christmas.