REHEARSAL PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 158, 5 July 1940, Page 8

REHEARSAL PLAN.

EMERGENCY SCHEME. TO-MORROW'S TEST. FLEET OF 150 VEHICLES. For two hours to-morrow afternoon the transport technical group of the Auckland emergency precautions organisation will cany out a rehearsal in the metropolitan area to test the effectiveness of a scheme which will entail the assembly of a fleet of 150 motor vehicles at selected depots, and their dispatch on certain duties.

In case of emergency the principal duty of the section will he to transport goods and materials as and where required, and for that purpose a number of vehicles heve to be impressed. The section is also required in case of necessity to evacuate citizens from danger zones. The scheme embraces all kinds of motor vehicles, including buses, trams, railways, motor ears, trucks and

The rehearsal will start at 2 p.m. and the headquarters will be the offices of the Auckland Transport Board. In view of the necessity of conserving petrol supplies vehicles, upon assembly, will be given a minimum of duties and short trips will be undertaken. A number of boy scouts will be used as runners, as there might 'tie. a possibility of telephones being put out of use'when real emergency aro>e.

The transport section will be ready to co-operate with district wardens as required. The chairman of the section is the engineer and manager of the Auckland Transport Board. Mr. A. E. Ford, and the deputy chairman is Mr. J. 11. Simson. manager of the New Zealand Express Company and president of the Auckland Master Carriers' Association. The honorary secretary is the traffic superintendent of the Auckland Transport Board. Mr. H. H. Morgan. The impressment officer is the chief postmaster, Mr. R. U. May. and his assistant is Mr. K. G. Brockett, officer in charge of motor registration. The rehearsal will be carried out quietly. Several Auckland firms, in addition to providing; petrol for vehicles are arranging voluntarily for the services of drivers.