USEFUL PARADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 82, 7 April 1941, Page 9

USEFUL PARADE

E.P.S. WORKS UNIT

1000 MEN TURN OUT

"Saturday's trial demonstration of the works section of the E.P.S. was well worth while." said the City Engineer. Mr. K. E. Luke, controller of the works section, today. "Naturally there were some gaps and some weaknesses, but the very purpose of these rehearsals is to learn where paper plans require revision to make them work in fact. We were very well pleased with the enthusiasm shown by everyone concerned and with what we learned from the test."

About 1000 men turned out, said Mr. Luke. The fire fighting units alone numbered 450 men. with 125 private cars and trucks on fire patrol work. They had to handle 100 fires or calls, mostly under the sealed-order plan. In some of the zones small fires were lit. and one "token fire" became too enthusiastic and reserves had to be called up to deal with it.

As part of the E.P.S. fire-fighting plan. Mr. Luke said, six-inch mains are being led to the harbour from hydrant boxes spaced along the full length of the city waterfront so that sea water will be available for fire fighting. These were used for the first time on Saturday and were most satisfactory, for, thanks to their large diameter and short length, up to 1000 gallons a minute could be pumped from them; they would be of considerable value in the event of any big fire in the city area.

Another pleasing feature of the demonstration, he said, was the speed with which transport of men and special plant was carried out, though there were problems of communication through the lines being overtaxed.

The next full parade of the works section will be held on Thursday it the Corporation yard 'at 7.30 p.m., when the various sections of the unit will be organised and will carry out practice preparatory to the big demonstration in conjunction with the Defence Forces and the Home Guard in the city on April 19.