THEATRE STAFFS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 84, 6 October 1941, Page 3

THEATRE STAFFS

E.P.S. INSTRUCTION

A meeting of instruction for theatre wardens and theatre members of the E.P.S. scheme was held at the Majestic Theatre last night. It was organised by Mr. R. L. Grant, of Theatre Management, Ltd., with the co-operation of Mr. A. McJennett, of the Central Fire Station. The object was to increase the safety of the public should an emergency occur; Every theatre in the meeting area, including those in the Hutt Valley and Petone, was represented, and Mr. McJennett had a large audience for his lecture. As part of the ordinary routine panic drill for theatre personnel took place fortnightly, said Mr. McJennett. This had been in practice ever since the Hawke's Bay earthquake. In addition to this, the theatre staffs had now been formed into a special fire-watching unit to patrol and protect their buildings, in the event of an attack. ATTACK A POSSIBILITY. j "Don't think I am trying to be an j alarmist," said the speaker, "but any man or woman who thinks New Zealand is so far away from the theatre of war as to be immune from attack has the wrong conception of the position altogether. With raiders in the Pacific, it is quite possible that we could be subjected to attack." It was known, he stated, that some of the raiders operating in the Pacific carried as many as eight,planes. Mr. McJennett had on the stage a fire-fighting equipment, wooden shovel and bucket, stirrup pump, etc., and gave a demonstration of their use in dealing with incendiary bombs. His lecture was very comprehensive and lasted for over' an hour. Afterwards a number of Ministry of Information films were shown. Those present, seeing what splendid work the civilian population of Britain is doing, must have felt glad that they could also claim to be "doing their bit" by endeavouring to prepare themselves to give useful service in time of emergency. ___ mm ____ m ____ mmammm