‘EVERYTHING DONE’

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31656, 17 April 1968, Page 1

‘EVERYTHING DONE’

The Civil Defence Committee unanimously agreed yesterday that during the flooding everything possible was done by the police, assisted by the Civil Defence Officer (Mr J. F. Moffat) and all other services.

The committee complimented them on their efficiency and emphasised that the police were in control the whole time. The City Engineer, Mr P. G. Scoular, told the meeting that his department had standing instructions for two types of emergency—local emergencies and civil emergencies. Procedures for handling local emergencies were an extension of normal activities and no formal action was necessary to implement them At no time did he consider that the circumstances of April 10 to 12 were other than a local emergency. Gangs of men were kept working until late in the evening on both days and small patrols were maintained all night. Mr Scoular produced a log showing that on Wednesday night, Thursday night, Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday, council staff (excluding overseers and foremen) worked 1392 J hours. THURSDAY MEETING In his report, Mr Moffat said that he and Brigadier J. T. Burrows, the South Island Regional Commissioner of Civil Defence, attended a meeting at police headquarters at 12.30 p.m. on Thursday. They had been told they would not be called on at that stage, but would be advised if any section had to be alerted. He said that the senior members in the Cashmere sub-area, which included most of the Heathcote River, were put on stand-by at 1.15 p.m., and the Aranui sub-area warden was alerted at 1.30 p.m.

At 11 p.m. the police told him they would telephone if Civil Defence was required. He went to bed at 1 a.m. and got a call at 4.35 am. from the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) who asked if he knew that half of Christchurch was under water and no-one was doing anything about it Mr Moffat Said that he then telephoned the police, who said that they had the situation in hand but that he could alert the Sumner warden to stand by. He did so, and after a number of other telephone calls, he visited police headquarters where he found Mr Kirk talking to Inspector L. W. R. O’Neill.

pared well in advance. At no time did the situation approach a stage where the police members of the services were unable to cope, he said. In addition, the police had had other resources available to call on if needed. After the initial reports of storm damage in the Cannon Hill estate on Thursday, a control centre had been established at the Central Police Station. As reports came in on Thursday and Friday of the danger of flooding in South Brighton, the Heathcote area and Sumner, key points had been set up in each area to handle the local situation under the direction of the control centre. Men and equipment were sent into an area when needed. WARNINGS GIVEN Warnings had been broadcast and patrols were made in each area. Where patrolling officers had seen a situation where a danger could occur, the householder received a personal warning. All the police could do was warn the people and tell them assistance and vehicles were available; they could not force them to leave. Some, in fact, had refused to leave even after a warning. The police had been inundated with offers of assistance of all types—so many that it had been embarrassing.

Inspector O’Neill told him that the situation was and always had been under control, that the reserves had not had to be called on, and that at no time did he consider it was necessary to call in Civil Defence assistance. To this Mr Kirk made no conunent. Mr Moffat said that his offer to set up welfare centres at Sumner and Waltham Parks was accepted. Later in .the morning the alerted civil defence members were told to stand down. POLICE REPORT Sufficient staff and equipment were available at all times to handle the evacuation needs in areas in Christchurch which suffered most in last week’s storm, said the chief superintendent of police in Christchurch (Mr G. S. Austing). Mr Austing said that the police had been fully pre- <