IN CASE OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 12

IN CASE OF WAR.

GAS INSTRUCTION. CLASSES IN AUCKLAND. COMMENCING AT WEEK-END. For tno purpose of disseminating information regarding precautionary and remedial measures in the event of a ga* attack by air, a series of da*«e* w to l>o hold at the Northern Military District School of Instruction at Xarrow Xeck. The will extend over two weekends, the first commencing on Saturday next. • Tlve class will comprise the following: Six police officers, six Auckland City Council staff, four monil>ei>; of .the St. John Ambulance Association, four members of the Auckland Fire Brigade, and six member* of the Auckland Harbour Hoard staff. Further classes will be held at a later date for personnel drawn from suburban local bodies and other similar oi'ga nidation*. It i* intended that the personnel so trained should pa** on the information they have received within their own organisations, which are those which Would be charged with the duty of coping with the civilian side of any emergency that might materialise. These duties are clearly defined. Police officers would take charge of crowds, local bodies' staffs would engage in de-cohtamination work, ambulance a<*eociatioiifl would care for the injured, fire brigade* would Suppress incendiary fires, and the harbour board staff would repair damage On the wharves. Outline of Instruction. The work of the elaeses w>ll l>e confined to elementary training in the treatment of gae casualties and the work of de-oontam inatinn. However, the schedule for the instructional clasuee Shows that the work will be of a comprehensive nature. After an introductory tecture on poseible methods of gas attack from the air in New Zealand, service respirators will lie fitted, and the effect* of various condition* of ga*ee studied. Methods of detection, equipment, warning system?, and the. organisation of first-aid and de-contamination centre*, also the gas-proofing of room* anil buildings, will be dealt with. Other aspect* will I*3 methods of dealing with incendiary bnmbe to neutralise their effect, and tho handling and treatment of gas casualties and contaminated persons. A testing fit of service pattei'li respirators will be made In a gas chamber.

When inquiries were made in Wellington by telephone this morning, to aecei'tain whether equipment would be made available for the u*e of civilian inetrrictore. in. imparting the knowledge gained to tlie organisations they represented, it was learned that, for the present, the instruction would be on theoretical lines, though the- army woirid assist where pOfwible. It wax under-stood that the Government intended eeeuring a Hiipply of civilian liiaeks, but that these were not yet at hand. Thin applied also to the special heavy suits used in decontamination work. It was stated by army headquarters that valuable instructional work could be given in de-uolitamination work, fire Auppreeeion, the general care of the civilian population, and the gas-prooring of room* and building*;.