Progress With S.I. Civil Defence "Satisfactory"

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29726, 20 January 1962, Page 12

Progress With S.I. Civil Defence "Satisfactory"

The Civil Defence Organisation in the South Island made satisfactory progress last year, said the regional officer (Brigadier J. T. Burrows) in Christchurch yesterday. reviewing the first year's operations. Brigadier Burrows said public support and interest in civil defence had been shown by the excellent way in which local bodies and other authorities had attended civil defence exercises at South Island centres “It was unfortunate that in each centre, Christchurch. Dunedin and Nelson, only to persons were invited to attend. We really could have taken twice this number judging by the interest that was shown” he said “As it was. 150 representatives attended the two-day courses held in each of the centres “Our total of 150 included 16 mayors and county chairmen, seven county and city engineers. 20 town and city clerks. 19 Government department heads, and abou* 6*l representatives from various welfare organisations " Br gadier Burrows said. Each of these officials had returned to his own district to develop the plans presented to him so the entire o-ganisation would be of a na'tonal uniform level. Two regional —tn Christchurch and Dunedin —had been established The work handled by both was largely complementary and was concerned with advisory matters, although both wp'e partly operational The Christchurch regions' headquarters covered the area north of the Waitaki river and Dunedin 'he area to . the south The two regional committees would co-ordinate Government support if a major disaster occurred. Issue of Equipment Already some eouinment hsd been 'ssued in the Sou’h Island This inc'uded civil defence ■”-m hvris. identity cards, 26 000 e*’d dressings ■more than 600 ambulance rre’chers and "inv training publications There wg’ a constant demand from district organisations for training films. As the South Island regional officer, Brigadier

Burrows has travelled many thousand miles during the last year explaining, coordinating and organising About once a month, he attends national headquarters in Wellington.

This year the South Island regional headquarters proposes to hold another indoor study course in November. "We hope to hold this one at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, instead of in three centres as we did last year,” said Brigadier Burrows.

“It will be a three-day course to be attended by representatives from the three centres. We hope to hold similar courses annually in future so civil defence controllers throughout the South Island will be brought up to date with new developments and study specific aspects,” said Brigadier Burrows.