E.P.S. CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 46, 29 April 1942, Page 4

E.P.S. CONTROL

NEW DISCIPLINARY POWERS

EARMARKING OF VEHICLES

At a meeting of the E.P.S. organisation last Thursday evening amendments to the E.P.S. regulations Ave re received with some satisfaction, these clearing up many points where doubts previously existed. Additional powers are vested in wardens, and personnel enrolled with the Law and Order Unit are now vested with the> powers of special constables; the right of the committee to use private lands and buildings for E.P.S. purposes are extended and clarified, and by-stand-ers are required to come to the assistance of E.P.S. workers if called upon. Controllers are now empowered to impose fines of up to £2 upon personnel for serious breaches of discipline, and these include, inter alia, failure to attend meetings and practices of units and failure to obey instructions lawfully given.

Many difficulties have now been overcome respecting the security of the Transport Unit concerning vehicles earmarked and reserved for E.P.S. purposes, and advice is now to hand that within the near future Impressment Notices will be served upon OAvners of vehicles which have been offered and are reserved, for E.P.S. purposes.

The inadequate coverage of the existing sirens to notify residents of an emergency was illustrated on the occasion of the previous blackout trial. In consequence two motor sirens, of the> fire engine type, have now been procured and have been attached to two E.P.S. vehicles. In the event of an alert and on the occasion of trials these vehicles will cover the Borough using the sirens to give the standard alarm signal j viz: rising 10 seconds, silent 5 seconds, with a continuous sounding of the siren fc-r the "All Clear."