CIVIL DEFENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 42, 19 February 1943, Page 4

CIVIL DEFENCE

REDUCING STRENGTH

POLICY FROM CONFERENCE

A reduction of the active E.P.S. personnel in Christchurch to about one-quarter of the present total strength of the organsation was proposed in suggestions considered by the Central Committee yesterday, states a Press Association telegram from Christchurch. The proposals, which are based on the policy outlined at the conference in Wellington last week, provide for a first-line active establishment with membership divided among wardens, medical, fire and Avorks units (each 20 per cent), and law and order and communications (each 10 per cent). Each of these units will have a reserve of 50 per cent of the active strength. A skeleton organisation of other units will be retained, but the remainder of the personnel, though still liable for service, will be called on to do very little training. The active strength of the first-line units, adds the Christchurch message, will be about one-sixth of the present total strength. This personnel will be given a six months' course of instruction, based on that at the Civil Defence School at Wellington. The meeting was attended by the Director of National Service, Mr. J., S. Hunter, and the Regional Commissioner, Colonel W. T. Churchward. Auckland's Position When the telegram was shown to the Mayor and Chief Warden, Mr. Allum-, he said that at the Wellington conference he had attended last week proposals ■on the lines telegraphed from Christchurch were submitted. He had since been given to understand that some changes were to be made. "I do not anticipate any material alterations in the local set-up other than action that may be necessary to ensure that personnel of the wardens' and technical units should undertake a course of instruction with the object of them being trained so thoroughly that they could be used in any capacity." Mr. Allum concluded with a warning note. He said that while the improved war situation had rendered certain relaxations necessary, the public should be definitely warned against complacency, which was certainly not justified. -