AIR RAID TEST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 66, 19 March 1942, Page 8

AIR RAID TEST

WEAKNESSES EXPOSED DEVONPORT MAYOR'S COMMENT Better provision against daylight raids was stressed by the Mayor, Mr. R. G. May, at last night's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council. Mr. May said the time had come for Devonport to establish a group of tiie F.i'.S. i.) act in the eve n of a daylight raid. Several weaknesses liad been exposed during the recent daylight test, and had there been a genuine raid most of the E.P.S. personnel coining across the harbour from Auckland' would have been casualties. Mr. May suggested that half of the present personnel should be formed into a daylight group, composed of residents who remained in the borough during the day, and thai two launches.'with greater mobility than the fen*steamers, shoo Id be provided for the fire personnel. Jib had already sought authority for the appointment of women workers. Many were willing to act. Tn future all ihe key positions would be occupied by men who wo-'e not absent in the city during the day. Mr. May added that protection for women, fhildren and old people was not vet satisfactory in the boroucrh. As no iron era! policy for evacuation had yet been formulated, and in the e\'ent of a real raid manv peonle dependent upon tlus means of safety would be disappointed. In spite of many anneals volunteers had not been forthcoming to dig trenches.