KEY MEN IN E.P.S.

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

KEY MEN IN E.P.S.

* 70 APPEALS MADE IN WELLINGTON MANPOWER COMMITTEE’S DECISIONS (P.S.S.) WELLINGTON. March 15. Appeals on behalf of 70 key members of the Wellington Emergency Precautions Services organisation who were called up for home defence service in the January ballot were heard by the Manpower Committee on Saturday. The appeals were made by the executive of the organisation, vtfiich was represented by the Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) and the secretary (Mr A. J. Hines). “The principle upon which these appeals are made.” said the Mayor, “is that the E.P.S. is one of the main arms of defence, and so long as the main threat is that of enemy raids by bombardment the E.P.S. is likely to have more work to do than any other arm except the Air Force. It would be unwise for the Army to take key men from the Navy or Air Force, and similarly it is thought unwise To remove from the E.P.S. key men who have spent a long time developing their knowledge of the organisation." Mr Hislop a'dded that since that statement had been prepared the position had altered. Since then the possibility of attempted invasion t had become very real, and therefore he was not prepared to support, and he did not intend to do so. a considerable number of appeals that were thought .justified in the earlier stages. "There have been many changes of personnel of the E.P.S. due to calling up for military, air force, and territorial duties, and large numbers of the most active members are being called up now who are not being appealed for,” continued the Mayor. “The total number of men in the E.P.S. in Wellington will probably be 30,000, and they cannot be kept organised and trained without a large number of active key men in charge of them. The work of these men is very onerous. Many of them are doing eight hours a day at E.P.S. work, in addition to running their own businesses or occupations.” When the appeals on behalf of 28 fire patrolmen came up, a statement on behalf of the Wellington Fire Board em-' phasised the importance of this section. Each E.P.S. district, it was stated, required a minimum personnel of 50 for its fire patrol. The position would be getting more acute shortly, as men were being called up. It was a most serious matter, because the efficiency of the fire patrol service must be maintained. Thirteen of the appeals were withdrawn, and other appeals were held over because of the reservists’ medical grading. The appeals of a large number of reservists were dismissed, subject to their not being called up before certain dates, and other appeals »were held over for various reasons. The reservists concerned were five building and sub-wardens, special duty officers, and fire patrolmen.