C.D. officer considered

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 7

C.D. officer considered

The Canterbury United Council may appoint its own regional civil defence officer, but seek rescue training and assistance from the office that serves the Christchurch Combined District. An alternative would be for the Christchurch officer to work for both the region and the city, with an increase in staff. The United Council's civil defence committee has saidthat the coming year's budget of $48,000 should provide for one of those possibilities. A meeting with the Christchurch district in March will discuss civil defence administrative choices. Colonel W. B. F. McAllum. regional Civil Defence Commissioner for the South Island, told the committee

that he favoured a separate regional officer answerable direct to the United Council. The suggested alternative would tend to be very confusing for the person responsible for regional civil defence, he said. Cr R. W. J. Harrington said that regional training responsibility had to be resolved. He could not see one regional officer being able to do the job. "We have a very strong base." he said. "Let'us build on it." Colonel McAllum said that

the Christchurch Combined District could have its terms of reference extended to give it some regional responsibility. Mr G. G. Hood, the Ministry of Civil Defence representative on the United Council committee, said that the Government was considering paying the cost of regional radio network equipment. It would probably be supplied by Tait Electronics. Ltd. which submitted the lowest of two tenders, at $6102. The other teftder was $6966. Both tenders were within the budget estimate of $7740.