E.P.S. PERSONNEL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23756, 30 September 1942, Page 2

E.P.S. PERSONNEL

♦ CALLING-UP OF MEN FOR ARMY

AUCKLAND’S POSITION DISCUSSED (P.S.S.) AUCKLAND; Sept. 29. The calling-up of men in the higher age groups for the Army is not causing “deep concern” to the Emergency Precautions Services in Auckland, as it is reported to be doing in Christchurch, “So far the E.P.S. has appealed for no one,” said the Mayor (Mr J. A. C. Allum), speaking as chairman of the central committee. “It is not proposed to depart from that policy, and there should be no need to do so.” The only E.P.S. key men who could be regarded as indispensable were technical specialists in the employ of public bodies and of private concerns carrying on essential services. These men, if called up, would be appealed for by their employers, and in all probability would be exempted because of their occupations. For certain other purposes the E.P.S. required men who were definitely able-bodied, and it relied on obtaining them from the ranks of workers in essential industries who had been exempted from Army service. Some such people would have to do two jobs. The rest of the service would have to be manned by less able-bodied persons of both sexes, but in the event of an air Aid or bombardment, the E.P.S. would be entitled to expect such assistance as the Home Guard was able to render. In some circumstances this aid could and should be really substantial. The needs of the Home Guard and the E.P.S. for more men had been very satisfactorily met in Auckland by the formation of joint selection committees. and this arrangement would con. tinue. The Emergency Fire Service, although part of the E.P.S,, was in a special position, the Mayor concluded. Appeals for some of its members had been made by district commanders, and the policy governing such appeals was determined by the National Service Department, which administered the service through the Dominion Fire Controller.