GAS ATTACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 278, 24 November 1938, Page 13

GAS ATTACKS.

DEFENCE SCHEME. government plan. OUTLINE BY MINISTER. A scheme of precautionary measures against »as attacks from the air. in the execution of which the Government had invited local body co-operation, was referred to !>y the Mayor of Auckland, Sii hi nest Da vis, while addressing the annual meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association last evening. A letter received by the One Tree Hill Borough iff'.'' f ;;"" tl,p MinUtor of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. K. I'arrv, also lioadly outlined the plan. The council decided to reply stating that it would co-operate. This afternoon I conferred with your secretary-manager. \l r jLangstone," said Sir Krnest at the association meeting, "with regard to participation l.y the St. John Ambulance in a scheme of precautionary and remedial measures against gas attacks from the air. A proposal was made that a limited number of classes be organised "istniction in the treatment of oas | casualties and decontamination work In the allotment of personnel, he said, provision had been made for officers from organisations engaged in first-aid wor!;, siiHi as tlu» association. -Mr. Parrv. in his letter to the One I lee Mill Borough Council, stated that the Dominion's liability to air attacks had been under consideration by a special committee set up by the (Jove'rnnient. A tentative scheme had been drawn up. he wrote, for the dissemination of information alHMit precautionary and remedial measures against gas attacks from the air. The creation of classes to receive instruct ion in anti-gas training was the basis of the scheme, and it was desired that the personnel of such classes should be drawn from the employees of local authorities and organisations engaged iu first-aid work, together with officers of State departments, such as tile Army and Police Departments. The Government would appreciate any assistance the council was willing to give, in order that these classes could l>e established The co-operatlon of local authorities was essential to reaching this end. Military headquarters would communicate with the council at an early date, said the Minister in conclusion, with a view to making the necessary arrangements for the establishment of a local anti-gas training class.