EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23588, 16 March 1942, Page 4

EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

ARRANGEMENTS MAtfE IN AUCKLAND PROPOSED REGULATIONS CRITICISED (PA) AUCKLAND. March 15. A resolution expressing the concern of the Auckland public at the conflict of opinion between the Government and the Emergency Precautions Services Authorities in Auckland on the subject of civilian evacuation. was adopted at a meeting today. The Mayor (Mr J. A. C, Allum) presided over a large attendance. The controller of evacuation under the E.P.S. (Mr C. J. Lovegrove) outlined the steps taken for 'the billeting of 46,000 evacuees in rural districts, and commended the enthusiasm of the authorities and the co-opera-tion of the residents in those areas. “Last week I saw a copy of the regulations proposed by the Government for the control of evacuation, and I was bitterly disappointed,” said Mr Lovegrove. "They said much in words, but meant very little.” Mr Lovegrove added that amendments had been suggested by the Auckland authorities, and he was hopeful that they would be adopted. There was no mention of voluntary evacuation in the draft regulations. The scale of billeting fees was not defined, the regulations merely stating that the matter “rests, with the central committee.” Which committee was intended was not clear. Already a certain amount of private evacuation had taken place, but he felt that one scale should be stipulated so that there would be no discrimination. "The time factor in any evacuation is all important,” continued Mr Lovegrove. "Tlie experience of Singapore, Darwin, and Broome showed that the evacuation of women and children should take place before and not after an attack. Without being panicky, we have to recognise that sooner or later some attack "will be made on New Zealand, and I consider Auckland is the focal point. The people have to steel themselves to that fact. “The life of one child is more important and valuable than the most palatial building in this or any other city,” said Mr Lovegrove amid applause. "If evacuation is sanctioned it is proposed to evacuate en masse all school children over eight years. Children under that age will be evacuated with their mothers. The Plunket Society is doing good work in preparing a census of expectant mothers who will be evacuated. “I oppose the proposal that the military authorities should have the right to say when evacuation is to be undertaken. I have suggested that the regulations should provide that a central committee under the control of the chief warden should have the right when it thinks fit, and not when the Government or the military authorities think fit, to order evacuation.’