Organisation For Civil Defence Established

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29339, 19 October 1960, Page 16

Organisation For Civil Defence Established

A civil defence organisation for the Christchurch area was established yesterday by local bodies and others at a. largely attended meeting. There was complete unanimity.

“How long will it be before the matters in the resolutions are put into operation?” asked Mr A. T. Bell (North Canterbury Catchment Board) towards the end of the meeting. “I would not like to say,” replied the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning). "We will attempt the organisation as soon as possible. When that will be, I dare not say. In the second week in November, we in Christchurch will be enjoying ourselves and I would not like to call a meeting then.” Some had been concerned for more than two years over the Waimakariri river, said Mr Bell. They hoped that action in the future would be faster than in the past. The duty of the scheme was to guard the citizens against calamities such as earthquakes, floods, fires, and possibly, atomic warfare or fall-outs, said the Mayor, who presided. They had to be forewarned. He had not met in the South Island any individual Who did not think such an organisation was necessary, said the regional commissioner (Brigadier J, T. Burrows). He explained the basic principles of the scheme. The first was acceptance of responsibihty by the local authority concerned. The second was that the controlling committee incorporate in the scheme and utilise to the full all available existing agencies and services. The third was that to operate successfully the agreement at all levels had to be on a mutual aid basis.

Local bodies were already planning how to help Christchurch but the planning should cover the smallest towns, said Brigadier Burrows. Towns would help the country and the country towns. He had the authority to channel in aid from Government sources. There was no waste effort, and no waste time, in the plan. It was a question of what use they made of resources they had. Peace-time Use

A civilian army was set up in the last war, because of the threat of warfare. The plans were good, being based on .the English scheme. But the organisation now proposed was for peace and rapid handling of a situation. He believed that an organisation such as was established during the war would collapse about four years after the first ready response. The first problem to be faced was the handling of casualties in large numbers, said Brigadier Burrows. It was necessary to have a reserve section to cope with people trapped and a welfare section for those who had lost their homes temporarily. Transport, oil and petrol, food and public information had also to be provided for. A warden system was also necessary. There were in existense in the city organisations which could form smaller committees, under the executive, to deal with casualties, while rescue teams could be drawn from industries.

The survey of welfare facilities should be done by business brains, which should take over in an emergency with leaders who had studied operational command. Sector Wardens

If a “balloon went up,” one man would be in command, assisted by others in whom he had confidence, at defence headquarters, said Brigadier Burrows. All had seen fall-out of dust from Australia on the Southern Alps. Protective measures to be taken against radioactivity from a nuclear explosion could be studied by a special committee from the University of Canterbury and the D.S.I.R. He invited parent-teacher associations to provide the wardens for sectors into which the city would be divided.

Asked if the Government would finance the scheme. Brigadier Burrows said that once organisations were set up • requests for assistance would be considered. The Government was groping as to the amount needed. Although the meeting allocated 15 minutes for questions, only one was asked. Resolutions Adopted Resolutions unanimously adopted were:— That to meet emergencies which may arise from earthquake, fire, flood, or other civil disasters or, in time of war, from enemy action or enemy sympathisers, this meeting supports a proposal that local authorities make arrangements for the performance and carrying out in the Christchurch metropolitan district of the functions described in The Local Authorities’ Emergency Powers Act, 1953. [The act provides that a local authority may make arrangements in its district in the event of an emergency for rescue, first aid, relief, welfare, conservation of foodstuffs, clearing of dangerous structures, etc., and may appoint emergency committees, controllers or other officers, set up emergency posts, provide equipment and facilities, and enter into agreements or arrangements with associations, societies, etc., for this purpose, uniting where necessary with

other local authorities. It provides that the chairman of the local authority may at any time exercise on its behalf, the powers of the local authority in an emergency.) That for such arrangements it approves and commends in principle a civil defence scheme which makes the fullest use possible of suitable organisations, societies, associations and groups already in existence.

That this meeting recommends that the Christchurch area control committee consist of the Mayor of Christchurch (chairman), the Mayors of the boroughs of Riccarton and Lyttelton, the chairman of the Halswell. Heathcote, Paparua and Waimairi councils and the chairmen of such standing committees of the City Council as are concerned with facilities of use for civil defence, with power to coopt leaders of other organisations.

That the executive committee consist of the Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch, as chairman and controller, the deputy controller, the town clerk of Christchurch, representatives of the casualty, rescue, welfare and wardens sections, with representatives of other services and qualified persons co-opted as and when necessary in the discretion of the executive.

Asked when the organisation would get down to surveys, Brigadier Burrows replied: “As soon as you appoint personnel. A great deal has been achieved by the setting up of the organisation today and we are a great deal better off than we were yesterday. Organisations have been set up and training is proceeding quietly.”