FRICTION EVIDENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 306, 8 October 1942, Page 2

FRICTION EVIDENT.

E.P.S. COMMITTEE RESIGNS. Regional controller opposed. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 7. The resignation of the committee which has organised the Christchurch Metropolitan E.P.S. was placed before the Central Committee to-day. The Organising Committee, in a letter to the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said they had come to the conclusion that they and the Regional Commissioner (Colonel W. T. Churchward) could not both function at the same time if efficiency was required. The members of the Organising Committee are Messrs W. Machin (chairman), W. S. Mac Gibbon, M. E. Lyons and W. H. Flint. The Central Committee decided to call a meeting of all responsible members of section committees at which they will be asked “whether they will choose four men 7 to replace the Organising Committee and be willing to accept the orders of the Regional Com z missioner, or whether they will support the Organising Committee in its contention that the Regional Commissioner should be recalled by the Government.”

The Mayor said he had received the resignation of the committee on August 27, but had delayed accepting it in a hope that the difficulties could be solved. He had now received a second letter. He read both letters to the Central Committee.

The first complained of indifference by Government officials with the Metropolitan E.P.S. organisation. The second said that until recently it had been possible to get imperfect and unworkable instructions modified, but lately there had been a regional commissioner placed in authority who had issued orders and instructions which, in the Organising Committee’s opinion, were inimical to efficiency. The Minister of Civil Defence had promised that these questions should be discussed before alterations were made, and promises were made that the Director of National Service and other national officers would discuss mattersi with the Organising Committee before the changes were imposed. “Instead we now receive orders and instructions in terms which are arrogant and offensive to men who, over long careers, .have learned something of organisation and which, addressed to our Chief Warden, are derogatory,” stated the letter. i

The Mayor told the Central Committee that ,he had been “subjected to the same sort of thing.” His tribute to the value of the work of the Organising Committee was supported by other speakers, and a motion was passed that a meeting be called.