CHRISTCHURCH E.P.S.

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23715, 13 August 1942, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH E.P.S.

MR BODKIN PRAISES EXECUTIVE

“ MISUNDERSTANDINGS ” DISCUSSED ‘‘There have been misunderstandings, which, I believe, will be cleared up as a result of my visit,” said the Minister of Civil Defence (the Hon. W. A. Bodkin) last evening, in a report on his all-day conference with the central executive of the E.P.S. in Christchurch; “I was very favourably impressed with the businesslike and thorough way they have tackled the job, and misunderstandings are being gradually straightened out.” The set-up of the organisation here had been excellent, commented •Mr Bodkin. The main duties were allocated to four men, and that method of organising indicated that quicker decisions would be made in times of crisis and that finality would be reached early on points of organisation.

“The..executive impressed me as being thoroughly capable and it is apparent that they have pirt much hard work into the organisation, which has been built into a fine one,” said the Minister. He added that he had been at central headquarters to study the whole scheme of E.P.S. in Christchurch, and he commended the planning and efficiency. The question of fire-watching was discussed at the conference, and the Minister said that consideration of changing from the present policy in Christchurch against continuous fire-watch-ing would -be deferred until such time as the two experts on civil defence, Mr lA. D. Wilso'n and Mr C. W. Hamann, could visit Christchurch to discuss the questions with the authorities. He had arranged with the executive that Mr Hamann should spend a few days in Christchurch, and Mr Wilson would make his visit later. After commenting that he was pleased that the city was using girls and women in the E.P.S., Mr Bodkin said he hoped to have the pleasure of seeing a trial here later. "One does get a better picture of the organisation when one sees it at work,” he said. “A trial is a test of organisation: and bottlenecks, if there are any, become apparent. One thing is already apparent in Christchurch—that a lot of planning, thought, and efficiency has been put into the organisation.”