"EMERGENCY PLAN ON PAPER"

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23315, 29 April 1941, Page 10

"EMERGENCY PLAN ON PAPER"

♦ CHRISTCHURCH BEHIND OTHER CENTRES URGENT NEED FOR FUNDS Christchurch, which was the first city in New Zealand to undertake the organisation of its services for an emergency, is now behind other centres in .the development of its Emergency Precautions Scheme. The city has an excellent scheme, fully worked out to the last detail -but it exists only on paper. The not inconsiderable task of raising money to implement the scheme will be discussed as a matter of urgency at an early meeting of the finance committee of the organisation, and within a short time it is expected that local bodies in the metropolitan area will be called on to provide their shares of the funds. Christchurch officials who discussed this matter with a reporter of “The Press” yesterday recognised that this would place on some local bodies a responsibility difficult to meet, but it was pointed out that in other cities large sums of money have been raised to put the Emergency Precautions Scheme into effect. . While Auckland has raised more than £30,000 and Wellington has reached the stage where a general rehearsal of its scheme can be undertaken, Christchurch has raised no money at all. Local bodies have undertaken to provide about £B6OO for the auxiliary fire-fighting equipment and the City Council’s share, some £5700, will be allocated in next, year’s estimates. But this is only one side of an organisation which must cover a wide field. What Money is Wanted For Mr G. Manning, chairman of the finance committee of the City Council, explained that there was legislative provision for the financing of Emeigency Precautions Schemes from the mnds of local bodies. As these schemes developed, as they must do, it was likelv that the strain on the finances of some bodies might become too great and that it would become necessary for the Government to consider some form of capitation grant. So far the City Council had provided nq funds for the scheme, said Mr Manning, but it had committed itself to expenditure in two directions —about £5700 for auxiliary fire-fighting equipment, together with the allocation for the former borough of New Brighton, and the appointment of Mr A. R. Galbraith, former City Engineer, as liaison officer to the scheme. Position in Christchurch

Large sums will have to be spent in Christchurch, according to those conversant with the scheme, if it is to become a fact instead of a theory. Among the most urgent requirements are the prbvision of additional water supplies, a detailed survey of facilities for providing bomb-proof shelters, alterations and additions to existing buildings readily convertible to bombproof accommodation, education of the public in meeting various kinds of emergencies, in the gas-proofing of rooms and in the improvisation of shelters which will give some protection from bombardment, the institution of a code of signals and warnings, the provision of equipment and plant for E.P.S. workers,. and, possibly, as projected in Auckland, the construction of a decontamination centre.