FIRE PATROL SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 6

FIRE PATROL SERVICE

♦ many withdrawals DIFFICULTIES EXPLAINED BY ORGANISER The difficulties of the General Service Corps in securing a sufficiently large personnel for fire patrol work were put before a recent meeting of the executive of the Emergency Precautions Scheme by the organiser, Mrs B. C. Penney. She said 1200 women were needed and so far 316 members and 150 cyclists for communications. About 150 members had withdrawn in the last two months, and only 20 recruits had been obtained, said Mrs Penney. This, she considered, was attributable to the following difficulties (1) Inconsistency in policy adopted by the Government, Army, Air Force, civic authorities, and others. Mrs Penney complained of the disheartening criticism of the work of fire patrols voiced by persons in uniform. (2) Apathy amongst the publi# caused by lack of knowledge. (3) Lack of publicity. The corps had done all the advertising it could afford and was working through the schools, giving demonstrations, notices of which were distributed to parents of the pupils. Mrs Penney suggested publicity through the radio, the newspapers, and posters. (4) Lack of petrol. Mrs Penney stated that the women had to carry the equipment for demonstrations on bicycles: some even went on foot. This work was very exhausting, but the women were willing to forgo the petrol so long as they had proper cooperation. The committee assured Mrs Penney that if she submitted script, arrangements would be made for broadcasts. She was invited to attend the first meeting of the sub-committee dealing with the co-ordination of all Emergency Precautions Scheme sections, when the difficulties of the fire patrol* would be investigated.