Civil Defence

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30143, 29 May 1963, Page 7

Civil Defence

Sir,—l was interested to read in “The Press” recently that Brigadier Burrows had been greatly impressed by the British top-level civil defence organisation. I am reliably informed that much of the detailed information given to him has been available in this country to the New Zealand authorities for the last three years, but whenever offered has been completely disregarded. Would this account for the apparent entire absence of any practical civil defence measures in New Zealand to date, at any rate in the South Island? There is surely a vast amount of groundwork necessary, which could have been carried out already, even in the training of efficient wardens and teams of volunteers, and which will have to be done as a first step in any scheme adopted. Is one to infer, from the absence of any apparent action in the matter, that advice and assistance from British exports now resident in New Zealand is not welcomed?—Yours, etc., PUZZLED. May 16, 1963. [The acting regional commissioner of the Ministry of Civil Defence (Mr R. G. Aitken) said: “Brigadier J. T. Burrows will not be returning to New Zealand until the end of June. Contrary to the correspondent’s impression, information available from the United Kingdom has, together with that from other countries, such as Australia. Canada, and so on, been of great assistance in framing the civil defence organisation suited to the needs of New Zealand. Any comment possible on the top-level arrangements in the United Kingdom will have to await Brigadier Burrows's return. As the correspondent says, a great amount of groundwork is necessary in preparing an organisation which will meet with the requirements of the Civil Defence Act, 1962. In the South Island local authorities had made considerable progress before the Civil Defence Act required them to produce a plan for approval. This progress is continuing satisfactorily.”]