Rethink over civil defence

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34041, 3 January 1976, Page 7

Rethink over civil defence

f A Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, The Ministry of Civil Defence will look into procedures for informing ; private radio stations of emergency alerts if the present system is not working properly, the Director of Civil Defence (Major-General R. B. Dawson) has said. Civil Defence was criticised at the week-end for not informing private stations of the need to warn the public about the possibility of a tsunami’s striking New Zealand after an earthquake in the Western Pacific on Saturday morning. Only Radio New Zealand was asked to broadcast the warning. Major - General Dawson said yesterday that the “Government procedure” was for him to notify Radio New

’Zealand, which he had done, through both the police and director-general of Radio [ New Zealand. “There is no question of *my issuing instructions to every private radio station in ’ the country,” he said. . But there were procedures l ! for them to be notified. “Most local civil defence * and police can do this,” ! Major-General Dawson said. , “Private radio stations have a tie-up with local civil de- ! fence organisations.” There was also an agree- ! ment with Radio New Zea- ; land for it to pass on any , official instructions to private ' radio and to the television 1 networks. “My onlv contact with TVI 1 and TV2 is through Radio New Zealand. It’s more of a local situation—for local civil ■ defence and the police,” he ! said “We have got to look into it if it’s not working i properly. We will look at ■ this as we get more informa- * tion as it worked and did ' not.’’