READINESS FOR EMERGENCY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23739, 10 September 1942, Page 4

READINESS FOR EMERGENCY

CAREFUL PLANS MADE « EVACUATION IS A REMOTE POSSIBILITY ”• (P.A.) WELLINGTON. September 9. _ “Although evacuation of any area is deemed a remote possibility, the authorities have acted on the principle that it is wise to be ready for any emergency.” said the Minister of Civil Defence (the Hon. W. A. Bodkin) today. Some misconception still existed, particularly in rural areas, regarding dispersal or evacuation from certain areas in the event of enemy action, he said. Evacuation must not be confused with dispersal, which was a temporary measure, while evacuation was the definite removal of people froip their homes from whole areas and the provision of temporary accommodation elsewhere. At present it was not intended that country towns, townships, or rural areas should be subject to evacuation orders, but rather that they should be reception areas for evacuees. The whole question had been carefully planned, he said, and both evacuation and dispersal would only be carried out when ordered by the military.

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

GOVERNMENT’S ADVISER ON CIVIL DEFENCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON. September 9. The Deputy-Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Home Security, London (Mr C. W. Hamann), who at present is advising the New Zealand Government on technical problems of civil defence, has returned to New Zealand after a flying visit to Australia. Announcing this to-day. the Minister of Civil Defence (the Hon. W. A. Bodkin) said that after taking part in- an inter-state conference In Australia, Mr Hamann flew to Darwin to, investigate the effect of Japanese raids and bombs. Two raids took place while he was in Darwin. All information and advice which could safely be released would be given by Mr Hamann during his forthcoming visits to E.P.S. districts.