"Civil Defence Exercise At Carterton Valuable”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 12

" Civil Defence Exercise At Carterton Valuable”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 26. “The emergency civil defence exercise at Carterton was a highly successful and valuable undertaking,” the Minister of Civil Defence (Mr Gotz) said today. “The first complete exercise involving existing civil defence units to be held under realistic conditions in New Zealand, it was most valuable in instructing the public, and providing lessons and experience for organisers, participants and observers. The enthusiastic support of the many residents taking part was most noticeable and heartening. "Initially civil defence exercises should not. however, be held unless the public has been given full warning as in Carterton. This ensures that no-one panics through ignorance of the true nature of the exercise. The warning should be given by accredited persons patrolling the streets of the area surrounding the exercise.” said Mr Gotz. The exercise in Carterton was nrenared bv the Mayor. Mr R. B. Wakelin. It was a combined effort by the Carterton Borough and the Wairarapa South County Councils. Messrs Wakelin and A. Reid, the chairman of the county, played leading parts. The exercise lasted from 6.30 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. It was based on the assumption that a maior earthquake had cut off all supnlies of electricity. gas and water, and all communications. A valuable aspect of the exercise, said Mr Gotz. was the reports and criticisms ’iven at a meeting of participants by umpires who observed the work of the 16 units taking oart. These units included the fire brigade. the police, the St. John Ambulance, the local Search and Rescue Organisation, the boy scouts, the staffs of the borough and county councils. and others

Prominent among the visitors and observers were Mr J V Meech. the director of civil defence; Mr H. N Ballinger, the deputy director; Sir Geoffrey Peren, th’ regional commissioner of civil defence for the southern half of the North Island; the secretary of the Muni- *

cipal Association of New Zealand, Mr C. L. Bishop; Mr T. A. Varley, the chief fire service officer; and representatives from a number of local authorities. Mr Meech congratulated those responsible for the organisation of the exercise. He described it as a good example which should be followed in other parts of the country. It had shown up certain weaknesses in the local organisation; but it was better to find these out during a trial than in an actual emergency. He also stressed that a town such as Carterton had two responsibilities in an emergency: (1) To deal with local devastation: (2) to provide aid and support for other stricken areas. Mr Gotz endorsed Mr Meech's suggestion that other local bodies should hold similar exercises, but added: “This should not be done until the civil defence organisations concerned are sufficiently equipped and trained.”