PLANS CRITICISED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 188, 11 August 1941, Page 8

PLANS CRITICISED

EMERGENCY SCHEME

LACK OF UNIFORMITY

Better planning, and greater uniformity in connection with the Emergency Precautions Scheme Organisation was urged by the Mayor of Onehunga, Mr. J. Park, at a meeting held at the Strand Theatre, Onehunga, yesterday afternoon. Other speaKers were the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, the chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board, Mr. S. J. Harbutt, the commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Mr. F. J. Hutchinson, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. Hardie Neil. There was an attendance of about 500 people. Mr. Park said that the existing emergency scheme lacked uniformity and wardens were placed in an invidious position, because propertyowners failed to see why they should be asked to blackout their properties when some controlling authorities ignored the regulations. He urged meticulous planning of food supplies, emergency water supplies, sanitation and public health, and close co-opera-tion between the fire groups. He submitted suggestions for increased efficiency of the ihdividual units. Mr. Park pointed out that the regulations were elastic. There was one set for street lighting, and another set for house lighting, and what they wanted was a proper coordinated plan of action. Although the scheme was a voluntary organisation, all people had to realise that they had to obey commands in case of emergency. They intended to raise the Onehunga organisation to the highest point of efficiency. Copies of the views he had expressed would be circulated for the use of any other local bodies, also for their own workers in Onehunga. No Need for Alarm Mr. Allum said that everybody had to be prepared to accept orders, and if everybody was prepared to learn from the experience of the people in Britain, and every person did his or her part, the dajnage occasioned by enemy action would be reduced to a minimum. There would be no need for alarm if all people did their duty. It was important that people should accept orders, even if they appeared stranga, as the whole information could not be given to the public. In the event of emergency the most important thing was that people should remain where they were. Mr. Allum pointed out that conditions were not static, there had been certain changes, and unfortunately changes for the worse. The organisation had to be ready to meet any change. It was no longer a question of discussing the necessity or otherwise of reduced lighting, but to decide how far they were justified in departing from a complete blackout. In the event of emergency there would have to be a complete blackout, and all efforts would be directed to taking steps which would ensure it. The experience in Britain was that where wardens, technical officers and workers carried out their duties efficiently, the damage caused by enemy action was reduced to a minimum. The secret was in obeying instructions.

Mr. Allum said that it was true that the reduced lighting scheme did not operate in a uniform way. and there were cases which created irritatiqn. In Instances instructions had not been carried out, but the public could be assured that steps wert being taken to bring everyone into line.