ORGANISATION OF E.P.S.

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23714, 12 August 1942, Page 2

ORGANISATION OF E.P.S.

+ MINISTER’S VIEWS ON SERVICES “ SOUTH ISLAND NEARING PERFECTION ” “The South Island is well on the way, from what I have seen, to perfecting the E.P.S. organisation,” said the Minister of Civil Defence (the Hon. W. A. Bodkin) on his return to Christchurch last night from Timaru. Dunedin, and Invercargill. “I have been agreeably surprised. The necessity for and the magnitude of the organisation as controlled from time to time are based on the recommendations of Ne v Zealand’s chiefs-of-staffs.”

The Minister announced that he had arranged that, as soon as possible. Mr C. W. Hamann (a civil defence engineer on loan from Home Security). and Mr A. D. Wilson (a fire-fighting expert) should make a tour of South Island cities to advise organisers and. generally. to strengthen the E.P.S. Both were very capab'e men. he said, and they had a wealth of information of great value to the organisation. Like Mr Hamann, Mr Wilson was a New Zealander. He had several years of fire-fighting experience in London, and also in Coventry and other blitzed areas.

"A general complaint was that the personnel of units had been sadly depleted by men being called up for the Home Guard.” said Mr Bodkin, reviewing his southern tour. “They are making the best of it; but the whole question of manpower will have to be surveyed before any action can be taken. In Timaru, the E.P.S. is very largely meeting the position' by the utilisation of girls and women. But. in the firefighting services, fit men will be needed and I think it will be found that those services will have to be considerably strengthened.” , The E.P.S. organisation, he was confident. would become efficient and effective because of the great enthusiasm being displayed by organisers and personnel.

Timaru had surprised him. said Mr Bodkin. A very efficient organisation had been set up there and some of the units were outstanding. A most busi-ness-like trial was staged while he was in Timaru. If there was any weak point apparent, it was in communications; but in Mr Hamann’s opinion the trials were a little bit ambitious for a start. Having regard to the nature of the trial and the number of incidents staged, he thought the test worked out remarkably weff. One feature of the organisation which greatly impressed him was the number of Timaru girls and women i ho took part. “I know women have done remarkable A.R.P. work in England.” commented Mr Bodkin, “but I did not know that they had been so extensively used in any E.P.S. organisation in the Dominion. The girl runners were exceedingly smart.” The preparation of shelters had been undertaken very thoroughly in Dunedin. said the Minister. The pooulation in different sections of the city at different times of the day had been plotted out on matte. following a very elaborate census. Mr Hamann had commented on the population-distribution records as the best approach to the problem he had seen. It reflected credit on the Dunedin City Engineer (Mr S G. Scoullar). Dunedin’s Shelters

“Dur\edin has a system of shelters which. I do not think, could be imnroved on.” he said. “I do not believe there is anything better in the Dominion. The shelters should be practicab’o for all needs. They are in reserves and in the basements of modern buildings in the city. According to all expert opinion these she'tors would h 0 absolutely safe in any blitz. The shelters are well disposed and have been built in the most efficient way. In some places, large drainage pipes have been used. They are most economical shelters—and most efficient ones.” The law and order sections were remarkably good in Timaru and Dunedin. where the police were responsible for the training. The training of firefighting units by permanent staffs had been highly efficient; in Dunedin, 'the fire-fighting service was the best hje l had seen so far.

E.P.S. TRIAL

“ORDER OF THE DAY” ISSUED

CONTINUOUS FIRE-WATCHING FROM TUESDAY

An "order of the day” for the E.P.S. trial to be held some time this month was issued yesterday by the Chief Warden (Mr E. H. Andrews). The date of the trial is not stated, but the Commercial File Guard is instructed to begin a period of continuous fire watching next Tuesday at 5 p.m. The order gives Distinctions covering all units Relief, dispersal. and accommodation, and supplies units will not function tiff the diy following the main portion of the trial. It is pointed out that only E.P.S. vehicles will be allowed on the streets, and in urgent cases of sickness or injury Ihe public is advised not to rely on private ca ,- s but to use the ambulance service. No cyclists other than E.P.S. workers will be permitted on the street'.

The order is published as an advertisement to-day.