CIVIL DEFENCE POLICE NEEDED

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30780, 18 June 1965, Page 1

CIVIL DEFENCE POLICE NEEDED

At least 160 more persons are urgently required for the Civil Defence Police between the Rangitata and Clarence rivers.

The initial target of 240 volunteers has been reached, and a drive by the Christchurch police is now under way to recruit the ultimate number of 400 or more.

The 3500 civil defence police and the New Zealand Police Force of 2700 will combine to deal with national emergencies ranging from floods and earthquakes to nuclear attack.

The civil defence police were not for industrial emergencies, but for natural or war disasters. Inspector C. McKen-

zie, of the Christchurch Central Police Station, said yesterday. “The plan is for regular police to go to the disaster area, and the civil defence police to take their place and perform the ordinary police duties.”

Men aged 21 to 60 (up to 35 if they are former policemen), of good standing in the community and reasonably fit, are being sought. Women, aged from 25 to 50, of good standing and reasonably fit, with no dependent children, are also asked to volunteer. Women with nursing or service experience will be preferred.

“At present we have 242 recruits in the district, including only one woman. We would like to form a squad of 15 women,” Inspector McKen zie said.

At present there are 242 civil defence police in the Christchurch metropolitan area and 82 in the country areas. To date. 106 are oiw” led in first aid in the metrooolitan area, 15 at Ashburton, Ive at Akaroa, and five in Leeston-Lincoln. Twenty-fiv< ■»t Lyttelton are undergoinr Irst-aid training, five at Dar leld, and six at Rangiora.

A considerable number 'lave already started training in general duties.

The present drive for re cruits was aimed, in particu ar, at country districts. In spector McKenzie said. There were no civil defence police it Cheviot, Amberley, Burn-

ham, Oxford, Waikari, and the Chatham Islands. If disaster struck in a builtup area such as Christchurch city, civil defence police from less populated areas where consequences would not be sc bad, would be required Therefore civil defence police in suburban and rural area. 1 could play a most important part, Mr McKenzie said. The following are the numbers of civil defence police in Canterbury dis tricts, the total number re quired being shown in paren thesis: —

Ashburton, 15 (25): RakaiMethven, 2 (12); Leeston, 4 (10); Culverden-Hanmer, C (12); Kaikoura, 3 (8): Cheviot, 0 (6): Belfast, 2 (6)Amberley, 0 (6), Burnham, 0 (6); Darfield, 5 (6); Lincoln I (6); Lyttelton, 25 (25): Tangiora, 6 (10); Oxford, 0 (6); Waikari, 0 (6); Chatham Islands, 0 (6); Kaiapoi, 4 (8): Akaroa, 5 (6); New Brighton. 1 (181; North New Brighton. 8 (10); Islington, 11 (18) Sumner, 2 (10); Harewood, 0 (2); Papanui, 22 (38); Addington, 20 (25); Sydenham-Cash-nere, 18 (20); St. Albans, 11 20); Shirley, 13 (15): Cenral, 2 (15); Woolston, 10 '18); North Avon, 9 (12); Lower Riccarton, 8 (12); Upner Riccarton, 14 (18). “We have a target of 400 mt will require 430, perhaps nore, to ensure that 400 rained persons are available t any given time, Inspector McKenzie said.