PETONE E.P. SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 158, 31 March 1941, Page 6

PETONE E.P. SCHEME

Support For Transport Committee Gauged MORE THAN 100 CARS Conspicuous evidence of the willingness of Petone residents to assist the organizers of the E.P. Scheme in the dfetrict was provided on Saturday afternoon, when owners of trucks, vans, cars and motor-cycles paraded with them on the parking grounds of General Motors (N.Z.), Ltd., Petone, in response to a request by the controller of the transport committee, Mr. J. L, Broun. The parade was to allow the transport committee an opportunity to gauge the support it would receive from vehicle owners should transport be urgently needed in the event of a violent upset in daily routine, and to acquaint owners with the point of assembly should this occur. In spite of popular interests elsewhere, more than 100 cars, 37 trucks (27 heavy and 10 light), 15 vans and 7 motor-cycles turned out and were lined up in orderly rows for inspection, which was carried out by Mr. Broun," accompanied by the deputy mayor of Petone, who is also chairman of the district’s E.P. Scheme, Mr. J. C. Burns; the secretary of the scheme, Mr. H. Firth; and controllers, or their representatives, of the other committees. The controller of the medical committee, Dr. J. T. Harding, had no difficulty in selecting vans suitable for use as ambulances. “This is a wonderful display,” said Mr. Burns, congratulating owners on their enthusiasm in responding to the transport committee’s request. “Petone is sometimes slow in moving, but when it gets on a job, it does that job.” The importance of the transport committee was stressed by Mr. Burns, who described how it co-ordinated with every other committee connected with the scheme. '

District Well Prepared.

Mr. Burns mentioned that he had attended conferences at which there were delegates from towns larger and more imposing than Petone, and in his opinion the Petone district was as well prepared to meet emergencies as any part of New Zealand. In some respects, Petone had been complimented at the conferences. That the E.P. Scheme was not essentially a wartime measure; that it was an organization prepared to meet any emergencies, such as earthquakes, tidal waves or fires was emphasized by Mr. Burns, who added that a place could be found in the scheme for all who volunteered.

After thanking owners for their attendance, Mr. Broun explained the duties of the transport committee. These included the classification of vehicles go that the correct types could be called on immediately they were needed.

Mr. Broun announced that the transport committee would join shortly with the other committees in a tryout of the whole scheme.