EMERGENCY SCHEME

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXII, Issue 18, 7 March 1941, Page 5

EMERGENCY SCHEME

TRY-OUT SUGGESTED FOR

ELLESMERE

COMMITTEE REVISES LIST OF

PERSONNEL

The recommendations made at the recent conference of delegates from Home Guard and E.P.S. committees to obviate, overlapping of personnel and to bring about a close co-ordination between the two bodies were discussed at a meeting Of the Ellesmere E.P.S. Controlling Committee on Tuesday evening. Present were: Messrs A. Anderson (chairman), J. A. Scott (controller), J. Sewell (secretary), R. T. McMillan,,, J. H. Jones, C. G. Fisher, T. J. Free, L. A. Whitham, W. H. Cartwright, T. W. Felton, H. D. Jones and Dr. S. R. Cattell.

The chairman reported on .the proceedings at the conference. The controller and the group commander were deputed to go through the roll of each organisation with a view to eliminating any overlapping.

Mr Scott said that the personnel of both organisations had been fairly well straightened out and there were not so many alterations as would be imagined. It was agreed,, for the time being, that the personnel should be kept more or less fluid as more men joined each organisation, some of whom might be more suited for work in the other. It was agreed that all members of the E.P.S. should enrol in the Emergency Reserve Corps, and it would be the job of each subcontroller to see that the men in

his section were enrolled. This was

necessary for the better control of the organisation. At present there were only five members so enrolled.

Dr. Cattell said that there was a good deal of over-lapping, more especially in functions of the different sub-divisions of the E.P.S. and he suggested that the sub-control-lers should have frequent conferences for the purpose of defining what each section should do and dovetailing each organisation into that of the other. This would add greatly to the efficiency of the scheme.

Mr Whitham suggested that a try-out should be held to test the organisation.

Mr Scott said that this was his idea also, but before this could be done the enrolment . of personnel should be completed.

The controller also read statements made by the Minister of National Service defining the duties of both the Home Guard .and the E.P.S. organisation throughout (published in last issue, of the Guardian),

Members agreed that the decisions made were particularly applicable to Ellesmere.

Members then began consid-! eration of personnel for each section, it being finally agreed that before anything definite could be done the enrolment of those willing to serve in the E.P.S. should be made on the proper form. The meeting j was therefore adjourned for a fortnight to enable this to be done.