MEETING ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1941, Page 8

MEETING ATTACK

LOCAL PRECAUTIONS

CONFERENCE HELD

NEED FOR PLANNING

The importance of making adequate provision to meet any situation that might arise from enemy attack or invasion was discussed at a conference of representatives of emergency precautions organisations held in Wellington. The Associate Minister of National Service (Mr. Wilson) presided, and last night he issued a statement about the conference, which was not open to the Press. "In view of developments in the war situation, particularly the presence of enemy raiders in the Pacific, the1 Government has felt some concern regarding the extent to which the emergency precautions organisations have progressed, particularly in the main centres and the coastal towns of New Zealand, and it invited delegates to meet in Wellington to discuss with me and representatives of the National Service Department any matters relating to the scheme," said Mr. Wilson. "Delegates were present from Auckland, Hamilton, Thames, Napier, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton, Wellington, Petone, Lower Hutt, Nelson, Westport, Christchurch, Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill, and without exception the reports of the progress of the organisation in those centres convince me that everything possible is being done to promote the efficiency of the schemes under emergency conditions. "As one result of the conference, steps will be taken by all the delegates to stage rehearsals of their respective organisations with a view to testing their efficiency and to deciding the full requirements in such matters as personnel and equipment. "Other important matters discussed were the standardisation of emergency warning signals, the question of providing air-raid shelters, anti-gas and decontamination squads, protection of hospital patients and school children, reduction and control of lighting, emergency communications, . evacuation, auxiliary fire brigades, waterfront emergency organisation, and the protection of vital points. HASTENING DEVELOPMENT. "I haye every confidence that the result of the discussions will be of considerable benefit both to the Government and to the organisations, and will have the effect of hastening the full development of the emergency schemes. "Another matter considered was the relationship between the Home Guard and the emergency precautions organisations. To dispel any misconceptions in that connection, I informed delegates that while the regulations provided for the Home Guard assisting the emergency precautions organisations, the two bodies required to be developed as separate entities. "The Emergency Precautions Regulations, 1940, confer on local authorities the responsibility of establishing and operating emergency organisations for the protection of persons and property within their districts and define the duties of such organisations. The Home Guard is virtually a military organisation under the control of officers appointed by the Minister of National Service. In the event of emergency, it may be proclaimed to be part of the defence forces and may have to give service away from its centre. It is clear, therefore, that though the assistance of the Home Guard might be available to the E.P.S. organisations, the latter should ensure that their own personnel is sufficient to enable them to carry out j efficiently the duties imposed upon them. "I also emphasised that where the personnel of emergency precautions schemes desire to undertake a system of training apart from the special work of their organisation, instructors for the purpose will be supplied by the Home Guard."