LOCAL BODY OFFICERS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13243, 20 January 1941, Page 2

LOCAL BODY OFFICERS

DEFINITION OF POSITION URGED RECOMMENDATION OF COMMITTEE The opinion that there should be some definite understanding ' regarding the position of local body officers and the Emergency Precautions Scheme, was expressed by the Mayor (Mr L. R. Wilkinson) at a meeting of the Emergency Precautions Committee on Tuesday afternoon. His view was that they should be induced to remain in the organisation, and that they should not be permitted to join the Home Guard. •Captain J. Mitchell asked if the chairman meant that the chairmen of the different branches of the organisation should not take the oath of the Home Guard, or even join that movement, but should remain with the committee. The chairman replied that that was the position. He thought it was very essential that the civilian services should be maintained. The army had to be fed and catered for, and that could only be done by maintaining the essential services. The local bodies must decide in what direction they could render the most useful service. Mr O. Knight said he had been given to understand that the local bodies would be approached and asked what members of their staffs they regarded as key men. It was moved by the chairman and seconded by Mr A, J. Merfielees that it be a recommendation .ifcbmij the committee to local bodies that their officers be retained, as necessary, for sendee on the Emergency Precautions Comipittee, the motion being carried.