E.P.S. IN SUVA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 287, 4 December 1941, Page 10

E.P.S. IN SUVA

WARNINGS IN STAGES

PROTECTION OF BUSINESSES (0.C.) SUVA, Nov. 28. Civilian emergency precautions were discussed at a meeting of the Suva Chamber of Commerce. • A notice in the Gazette had defined two areas to be evacuated in the event of an emergency, but there was no statement made as to where the people were to go. The chamber invited Colonel Workman, the Commissioner of Police, and Colonel Wales, of the New Zealand Army, to explain the position. The Government has already had two schemes which came to nothing owing to changing conditions, and the meeting considerably clarified the position. Mr. D. W. Amos said that it was of paramount importance that firms should be allowed to keep their staffs to prevent fires and looting in the case of an emergency, as the areas defined to be evacuated comprise the residential and business areas. He thought that civilians should be warned to stay indoors or in safety zones, keeping off the streets, and that the present scheme was hopeless.

Colonel Workman said he and Colonel Wales had discussed the matter with the Government. It had been decided to issue warnings in stages—the "aTert" and "alarm" stages. He thought it was the view of the military and the Government that there would be information of a possible emergency 12 or even 24 hours ahead, and fortunately the military authorities were in a position to obtain information which they could not do a year ago. During the "alert" stage, they should consider removing aged people and others from Suva. At the time of the "alarm" stage people would not be allowed to use certain roads until the military were in position, but after that the public would be told they could leave by certain roads. The notice in the Gazette dealt only with one stage—the last stage. Certain business houses who might wish to arrange a guard of their own staff could obtain special passes to remain, but no permits would be granted for women and children to remain in the forward areas. It was hoped to give two or three days' notice of an "alert" and ample notice of an "alarm," and the whole schema would be published in pamphlet form in three languages so that it would be available for reference.

The Hon. Alport Barker, vicepresident of the chamber, expressed thanks to Colonel Workman and Colonel Wales for giving them fuller information than in the original notice, which, on the face of it, was disquieting. He reminded members that if passes were required for persons to remain in the defined areas, application should be made for these immediately.