BOMB-CONSCIOUS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1942, Page 5

BOMB-CONSCIOUS

CITY IJIJSINESS MEN

RECORDS DUPLICATED

M' , ' Auckland business men a it" m '" he inking no chances in Hi' , <■ ■ '■■' of runny bombs causing Kiv'-..- 10 iln-ir offices and shops. J-"" ■ i .i-Mii entered the war there hi ! > •■ ii whir-spread activity in the flii'-''i.'ii r.f duplicating records and fif'l , " i-i'C Hum in the country.

I.: 1 1» Tiiif precautions have been I.il ■•■! [•> Hie hanks and larger insur- *''■"_' '■!!■"■> .md in most cases ledger ' '- ■ ri! "' important documents have I""-'■!i plji'if'Kiaplied and the films M'i'-r-'i 'I li<> main advanuge of this iiwilii.il is that the films can be con,l!,"1 '" ;i vt 'iv small space. For lit' i.iiu-r, Ihe head ollicc of one large liiiinci.il institution in the city has over Juoo films, representing the OHiip.'iii.vs complete records, comp: (-..cd into an envelope box. This t< in salt , custody miles away from "."' '">■ At. any time some or all r>l ilie records can be reproduced on h screen or otherwise enlarged. This pfiiticular company has dealt most rum irchensively with the matter for included in the records is a complete share register, together with all share transactions.

No little trouhle was entailed in collating the material to be photopraphed and preparing the records, which, of course, have to be kept up tii date. Thus some- banks are forwardinp monthly figures to be added to ino other duplicates, and if the enemy threat becomes more intense it. is proposed to send in daily returns. Blitz-proof Cabinets Another financial concern, instead of duplicating records, is pinning its faith to special fire and bomb-proof cabinets, which it is hoped to recover intact with their contents should the firm's premises be badly damaged or rlestroved. These safes are stated to have undergone most severe tests, and are similar to those which survived the blitz in London. Additional protection has been provided by reinforced strongrooms.

Some businesses are stated to have born handicapped in efforts to duplicate, their records through shortage of staff. Many can hardly cope with current work, let alone spare employees for what in some cases moans considerable research.

Some Government Departments have been active along the lines indicated, while a number of leading city warehouses, especially those concerned with foodstuffs, have arranged for reserve stocks to be hold at various points. Good progress is being made with the decentralisation of supplies of essential commodities by the food controller. Many firms possessing valuable stocks, however, have been content to run the risk of damage through enemy action, depending on the firefighting services and their war damage cover.