DRAIN ON E.P.S. PERSONNEL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23754, 28 September 1942, Page 4

DRAIN ON E.P.S. PERSONNEL

CALL-UP OP NEW AGE GROUPS

“ITS VERY EXISTENCE THREATENED”

The effect on the Christchurch Metropolitan E.P.S. organisation of the announced calling-up for military service of successive age groups up to 45 is causing deep concern to those m control, and the Mayor and District Controller (Mr E. H. Andrews) told a reporter of "The Press” yesterday that it was intended to make direct representations to the Government on the subject. The E.P.S., said Mr Andrews, had already lost a big proportion of its most able, active, and efficient men; the further inroads that would be made on key personnel, unless something were done to enable their services to be retained, would threaten not merely the efficiency of the E.P.S., but its very existence as a working civil defence organisation, "We were told by the Government that controllers, wardens, and other key personnel would be exempt from military service. Unfortunately, that has not been true up to now,” said Mr Andrews, "We have appealed successfully for the release of some key men from Home Guard training, but U can - not be emphasised too strongly that the E.P.S. is really up against it for personnel." , x He said it had been thought that many of the men called up could be replaced by women, but women were being called up for service, too. and it was just as hard to secure women for E.P.S. work as men. The E.P.S., he said, would have no option but to appeal for key men called in the forthcoming ballots. That, however, was a laborious and uncertain method of retaining essential men. It would be suggested to the Minister that a list of men, certified as absolutely essential to the efficient working of the organisation, should be prepared, and that these men should be automatically exempted from Army service. That was no more than the Government had already promised.