EMERGENCY PLAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 181, 15 May 1941, Page 3

EMERGENCY PLAN

PAMPHLET FOR HOUSEHOLDERS.

ARRANGEMENTS IN ASHBURTON.

POLICE AND WARDENS’ DUTIES

A pamphlet dealing witli the salient: features of the Emergency Precautions Scheme in Ashburton is to he drawn up for distribution to householders, according to an announcement made at the meeting of the central executive of the Ashburton Emergency Precautions Scheme, last evening. A committee comprising the Alayor (Dr. J. Connor) and Alessrs R. C. Major and G. Kelly was appointed to go into-the matter of the pamphlet.

Some concern over what he considered to he the clashing of duties of warden and police was expressed bv Senior-Sergeant J. F. Cleary (controller of the Law and Order Committee). He said that while he desired to give all possible assistance, he could noi acknowledge any warden interfering with him or his men. “1 don’t want men interfering with jobs which we should be doing,” said the Senior-Sergeant.

The Alayor, referring to schemes in other parts of the country, expressed the opinion that there was no clash, and the duties of the wardens and police could be defined.

It was left to the Mayor and SeniorSergeant Cleary to confer regarding the duties of the respective bodies.

It was decided that the wardens come under the control of the central executive.

The offer of the Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Garage Proprietors’ Association of its services as a unit was accepted. The matter was referred to the Transport Committee, it being considered that the unit would be of most value to that section.

The Director of National Service (Mr J. S. Hunter) advised that if the Executive desired to satisfy itself about any alien for acceptance in the Emergency Precautions Scheme an aliens’ authority would provide a confidential report.

A report from the Transport Committee stated that lists of all cars registered in the Ashburton County were being compiled. AATien all particulars were to hand the County would be zoned and separate lists prepared. The Alayor suggested that for the purposes of wardens the Borough should be divided in six areas, but after discussion it was considered advisable that there should be 12. The idea, is that each of these areas should be under a chief warden.