FUTURE OF E.P.S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25293, 29 August 1945, Page 6

FUTURE OF E.P.S.

WAR ACTIVITY ENDED I STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR The hope that it would be possible to wind up tb© war time activities of the Auckland Emergency Precautions Service bv the end of the -financial year on March 31 was expressed by the Mayor and Chief Warden, Mr 4A. C. Allum, yesterday. He said' most of the equipment had been disposed of. A skeleton organisation would be kept in being, he added. The service had been established not only for war but for any emergency, a,nd accordingly a nucleus would be retained. .The warden system was still in existence and the technical groups had not been disbanded. • ' "It is not practicable nor reasonable, however, to expect all these people to remain on call indefinitely," he added. There would always be sufficient available in each district to form the basis of an organisation which could rapidly expand and take action in an emergency. Personnel had gained valuable experience and the service possessed useful records. Mr Allum said the question of-re-taining permanent offices was one for determination by the central committee. PRESIDENT'S TRIBUTE NEW ZEALAND'S PAET HOSPITALITY TO FORCES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday "The people of the United States will never forget the part played by the Government and people of New Zealand in this long and bitter struggle," says President Truman, in replying to the victory messsage sent to him by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. "They will remember with everlasting gratitude the hospitality extended to the American forces in New Zealand during the dark days before the early campaigns on Guadalcanar and Tarawa," said President Truman. "The unflinching (spirit of confidence shown by the people of New Zealand and the splendid performance of their armed forces throughout the historic world struggle, I contributed in no small measure to hastening this hour of triumph." The President added that the two countries could look forward to a continuing close relationship of mutual confidence to the end that peace and prosperity should be permanent. WAR LEADER'S THANKS GREETINGS TO COMRADES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The" Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, has received a cablegram from Field-Mar-shal Montgomery, who thanks him for his "generous message" on the occasion of the cessation of hostilities, adding: "I send my best wishes to all my old comrades in New Zealand."