C.D. Commissioners Meet In Wellington

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31657, 18 April 1968, Page 1

C.D. Commissioners Meet In Wellington

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 17.

Regional civil defence commissioners held long talks in Wellington today to assess the role of civil defence organisations in the event of major storms.

The meeting—which was held in the civil defence headquarters —began at noon and continued into this evening.

the civil defence response tn last week's emergencies and said he had no particular reforms of civil defence procedures in mind. Mr Seath had no comment to make tonight on a demand by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) that he be deprived of his portfolio as Minister of. Civil Defence.

that there should be a thorough civil defence shakeup. Mr Kirk said: "The Prime Minister’s criticism now recognises the obvious, and he might apply his earliest attention to the attitude of the Minister of Civil Defence. “Any shake-up should start at the top if it is to make any impression at all," he said.

It was called by the Min ister of Civil Defence (Mr Seath), who is expected to make a statement about the outcome of the talks tomorrow morning. The chairman of the meeting was the Director of Civil Defence (Brigadier R. C. Queree): the commissioners were Brigadier J. T. Burrows (Central), Captain T. D. Herrick (Southern) and Captain L P. Burke (Northern). The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) reported yesterday that it was apparent that in some places the civil defence organisations were not adequate to meet situations such as the gales of the last few days. Mr Holyoake said that Mi Seath told the Cabinet yesterday that it would be necessary for the Government to collab orate with local bodies in achieving a better civil defence organisation through out the country. Mr Seath denied last night that he was dissatisfied with

Mr Kirk claimed in an in terview today that during the devastating storms last week civil defence had worked well in some areas—but in others it was obviously only a “makeshift paper organisation.” He said this situation had attracted no Ministerial attention until it was too late. Mr Kirk said that a thorough shake-up of civil de fence, “particularly in Christchurch,” was necessary. “Home In Bed” Mr Kirk criticised Mr Seath for describing as highly satisfactory. “a desperate situation, where the chief C.D. officer in Christchurch was home in bed.”

Asked to comment on Mr Kirk’s allegations, Mr Seath said “1 have no comment.” Referring to criticism by Mr Holyoake of some civil defence organisations, Mr Kirk said Mr Holyoake’s statements supported his own demand