ALL BUT READY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 275, 2 September 1939, Page 4

ALL BUT READY.

EMERGENCY WILL BE MET. PREPARATIONS IN ASHBURTON. Though nothing has been made public in recent weeks regarding the preparations of the civic authorities in Ashburton to meet an emergency, plans have been in view for some time past, and in the event of an actual outbreak of war, it would not take long to put them into effect. The Mayor (Dr. G. I. Miller) and the Town Clerk (Mr It. C. Major) stated to-day that the scheme that will be followed is so near completion that it might not be necessary even to call a public meeting to set up committees to deal with the various aspects that would be the outcome of our being involved in general hostilities. The Internal Affairs Department has been -working on plans for the evacuation of the larger towns and the reception of the refugees in the smaller centres, and these plans have' been communicated to the authorities. Naturally, the greatest stress has been laid on the clearing of women and children from the cities to places in the country where they would the safe in the event of an attack by enemy aircraft. Ashburton, it is thought, would not be likely to come under direct attention in the case of war, and the measures to be taken here are not of an elaborate nature. Nevertheless, they are adequate for all emergencies. Should the need arise, those from jfihom assistance would be needed will be called on. Several places* in Ashburton County have been selected as refugee assembly points for people who might have to be evacuated from Christchurch, and in the handling of supplies and other needs of these people the Borough and County Councils would combine their resources. ' ! At least two large motor trucks were requisitioned in Ashburton late last night and were put to use in the interests of the Defence Department. Other lorries, believed to be similarly engaged, passed through Ashburton shortly after 2 a.m.