IN THE EVENT OF ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 180, 28 April 1941, Page 6

IN THE EVENT OF ATTACK

' The public of Wellington will be glad of the assurance given last week by the Mayor (Mr. Hislop) that plans have been made for the partial evacuation of the city in the event of damage by enemy action. Seemingly, certain branches of the Emergency Precautions Scheme have created machinery for drafting, transport, accommodation and supply. Mr. Hislop explained that complete evacuation was not being thought of, but that “it might become necessary as a result of destruction of houses or damage to essential services to find immediate accommodation for a large number of people.” The importance of preparing in advance for even the most limited migration of people from the Wellington peninsula is very evident. However remote the contingency may appear to be, no one today can dare say that the precaution is not worth taking.

However thorough the plans of the Emergency Precautions organizers may be, it is not enough that the public should merely be advised of their existence. If a time of emergency should come the, citizens of Wellington, or any other centre affected, cannot reasonaoly or safely be looked upon as puppets. They will have individual parts to play, and the success of the arrangements made to cope with the emergency situation will depend to a large extent upon the actions and mood of the rank and file. What is the role of the private citizenhouseholder if the city is attacked? This question is heard in many quarters, and it is yet to be clearly answered. Both men and women, particularly those who are heads of families, should be given anticipative guidance as part of the general community scheme of Emergency Precautions training. If the city is threatened with bombardment, will families be expected to assemble together at home and remain there, or should they proceed to certain places of safety such as tunnels or gullies? Should householders stock up with food, or should they refrain from making extra calls on the normal food supply sources? Should people await instructions at home, or should instructions be sought? Will there be restrictions on the use of the telephone? Will the safety of school children, in school groups, be undertaken by the authorities, or will the schools be dismissed and the children sent home? These are a few of a multitude of questions which would be bound to arise immediately an emergency loomed. They are questions which should be answered in advance, and it is not sufficient that the organizers of and workers in the E.P.S. should alone know the correct answers. The whole community should, as far as possible, be appraized of every detail of the scheme which will be brought into operation* if enemy action reaches the shores of this country.