‘Natural Disasters First’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 14

‘Natural Disasters First’

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. In its plans for civil defence, New Zealand should concentrate initially on those types of natural disaster to which the country was prone, said the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) in a message to the first meeting of the National Civil Defence Committee today. Mr Seath is in hospital with a skin complaint. “We have had experience on many occasions of earthquakes and floods. Disastrous, volcanic eruptions, such as happened with Mt. Tarawera, are also a possibility. In the light of our past experience of such types of disaster, it seems just plain commonsense that we should direct our attention to preparing plans for dealing with them. “In so doing, we will also have gone a long way toward preparedness to meet manmade catastrophes,” said Mr Seath. Mr Seath reiterated that the full resources of the

State would be marshalled to help stricken areas in times of major disaster or national emergency. “That statement strikes the keynote of the Government’s policy, but for detailed planning purposes it needs amplification. “Local authorities, for example, will need to know just what forms and amount of assistance the State can provide in any particular set of circumstances so that they may plan effectively for civil defence in their areas,’’ said the Minister.

The planning committees set up under the 1963 Civil Defence Act would also, no doubt, welcome a clear assessment of the responsibilities and resources of Government departments and agencies, said Mr Seath. “I am not suggesting that planning against the consequences of nuclear disaster should be ignored, but first let us bend our energies to preparing agajnst the known forms of natural disaster.

“With certain reservations, the problems which will face a civil defence organisation in both peace time disaster and war are similar, though the scale of operations may be much greater in the latter case.

“As to any special additional preparations that may be necessary to meet the

threat of nuclear attack, those are matters which' in my view might w.ell be left to examination at a later stage of your proceedings,” said Mr Seath.