PREPARING FOR EMERGENCY.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 89, 9 November 1939, Page 3

PREPARING FOR EMERGENCY.

MEETING OF ELLESMERE

COMMITTEE

A CONTROLLER APPOINTED

Further progress in the organisation of a plan to deal with an emergency either through natural causes or by enemy action, was reported at a meeting of the Ellesmere Central committee at Lee'ston on Tuesday evening, Mr A. Anderson presiding over an attendance or thirteen members.

The first business was the appointment of controller. The chairman, reporting oh behalf of the subcommittee set up to make this appointment, stated that Mr J. A. Scott had been selected and it was understood that he was willing to accept this position. To the office of secretary, Mr J. Sewell had been appointed.

Messrs Buckenham and Restall represented the Dunsandel district and said that the residents were quite willing to join in with the Ellesmere committee. They were appointed to the committee as the Dunsandel representatives. After a dfscussion on the question of boundaries, it was agreed that these should be those of the Du'nsandel school district.

The acting-secretary, Mr T. Moorhouse, reported the results of his interview with the heads of certain committees in the Christchurch organisation. The necessity for making frequent contact with the city executive was emphasised especially with regard to transport and accommodation. Messrs B. Brown and R. T. McMillan were authorised to act for the Ellesmere committee in any exchange of views with the city authorities. Subsequently a questionaire is to be sent out seeking for information required by all the committees.

Reports were received from conveners of various committees relative to the progress of organisation work in their departments. With regard to medical supplies, there was some objection to the decision that local bodies should pay the cost of these and for the expenses of preliminary organisation, the contention being that it was a matter for the general government. A suggestion was made that the committee should revise its requirements and report .at the next meeting.

A few days ago an informal meeting of the conveners of the committees was held and the recommendations made there were placed before the meeting of the committee. In the course of these it was suggested that armlets of different colours would be 'necessary to distinguish the workers in the different departments- and that these might be made by women's organisations. Another suggestion was that a supply of candles should be kept in each home in case of a power failure. As there would be a difficulty in securing enough bedding and blankets it was also suggested that members of the Red Cross Society cou^d take up the work of making paillasses, which could be stored in readiness for the emergency. .

The Brookside evacuation committee is to be asked to appoint representatives to the central committee. Mr Mobrhouse was also added to the committee.

The controller and the conveners of committees were asked to prepare a report on what had already been accomplished and what should be done to complete the organisation, to be presented to the next meeting. The calling of this was left to the chairman, but it was stipulated that it should be held within a month.