Organisation Defended

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31653, 13 April 1968, Page 14

Organisation Defended

Throughout the emergency he had been kept fully informed and was in constant touch with the police, who were in charge, said the Civil Defence officer for the six Christchurch local bodies (Mr J. F. Moffat) last evening.

Shortly after midday on Thursday he attended a police conference at which the situation was discussed, he said. The police indicated that they would handle the matter and would call on the Army and Air Force to assist. The main problem was considered to he flooding and arrangements were made to evacuate persons from their homes if necessary. The police outlined the procedure they would adopt which included the setting up of police radios at selected danger points so that there would be continuous communication. Army radio trucks were also to be used.

During the day he kept in I touch with the police and the local body engineers, who were keeping a close wateh on the situation, said Mr Moffat. When he telephoned the police at 11 p.m. he was told by emergency control that everything was in hand and that arrangements had been made to meet any emergency which might arise at the peak danger period which was expected to be at high tide about 3 a.m. The Heathcote County ■Council staff, the chairman, and the Civil Defence warden for the sub-area (Mr C. M. A. Thompson) were on duty throughout the night, made patrols of the district, and called on homes threatened by flooding, Mr Moffat said. On Thursday the Red Cross, one of the units of the Civil Defence organisation, provided meals and assistance at Mt Pleasant and Sumner. About 4.30 a.m. yesterday Mr Kirk had telephoned him

at his home and had criticised the Civil Defence organisation for not functioning, Mr Moffat said. He told Mr Kirk that the police were in charge and were being assisted by the Army and Air Force.

When he telephoned the police immediately after Mr Kirk had spoken to him he was told that everything was under control and that some houses had been evacuated. He alerted the Civil Defence warden at Sumner (Mr W. J. Baguley), although he was assured there was no necessity. He also got in contact with the Heathcote warden, he said.

“Correct Thing” “I am not sure whether Mr Kirk’s criticism is of the Mayor of Christchurch (Sir George Manning) and the Civil Defence Committee for not declaring an emergency and thereby putting civil defence in charge of all operations, or whether it is the actual operation itself that is under fire,” said the Regional Commissioner of Civil Defence for the South Island (Brigadier J. T. Burrows) last evening. “Normally, 1 do support an early emergency declaration because civil defence must learn and benefit from its own experience,” said Brigadier Burrows. “However, in this instance, the police rightly were in charge in the beginning and when the situation suddenly worsened it would have been foolish in the extreme to have shifted control from police headquarters to the City Council. “I think the Mayor did the correct thing.” Sir George Manning, chairman of the Civil Defence Committee, said he had been in contact with the civil defence officer (Mr J. F. Moffat) on Thursday and was ready to take appropriate action in the event of having to declare a state of emergency.

Mr Moffat advised him that the situation was under control of the police who had

called in the Array and Air Force to assist with the evacuation where it might be necessary.

The civil defence officer maintained contact with the police emergency headquarters. He was assured by the police that everything was under control and all persons who wished to be evacuated had been. Under these conditions it was not thought necessary to declare a state of emergency.

Minister’s View The Minister of Civil Defence (Mr Seath) said in Wellington last evening that he had received regular reports from Christchurch during the last three days and was quite satisfied that the police were in charge and remained in charge, because with other Government departments they were part of the Civil Defence Organisation. The calling in of soldiers and airmen was part of the normal procedure, and they were the same men who would have been working for the Civil Defence organisation had it been in charge, the Minister said. He felt that criticism of the Civil Defence Organisation was criticism of those Government departments. The Minister commended all those involved for doing a “highly satisfactory” job and also complimented Mr Moffat, wardens, welfare workers, policemen and servicemen.