EMERGENCY PRECAUTIONS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 271, 12 August 1938, Page 10

EMERGENCY PRECAUTIONS

The Minister of Internal Affairs is to be commended for bringing forward a definite plan of campaign for meeting conditions which might arise out of any form of national-emergency or disaster affecting the civilian population. Following on the experiences of the Napier earthquake there was a 'movement in this direction, but as time passed the steps initiated gradually faded away. The sketch plan of organisation, however, remained and presumably it is on this that the present proposals are largely based. The broad idea is to organise the resources of the community in such a way as to ensure that in time of emergency those in authority will know at once where to turn for what is required. It may be transport; or food supplies; or emergency lighting or power; special classes of labour or materials — or any one of the many things needed to assist or protect citizens in a time of national emergency. There is no immediate occasion for concern; the emergency precautions scheme has been contemplated for some years past. Apparently what is now being done is to endeavour to give it practical shape in the way of collecting information and gradually building up a skeleton organisation which will always be available to meet the initial demands of any emergency on a large scale which might arise.