SEA RAIDERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1941, Page 10

SEA RAIDERS

POSSIBLE MENACE

NEW ZEALAND OPEN

E.P. SERVICES FULLY JUSTIFIED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. "The precautionary measures being taken by the Emergency Precautions Services organisations under the authority of the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations have the full concurrence of the Government and are the result of recommendations to the War Cabinet by the Government's advisers, the Chiefs of Staffs," said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) today, when replying to the question. "Is there real justification for partial blackouts and the staging of trial or total black-outs in this country, which is so far removed from the theatres of war?" Mr. Fraser said that full opportunity was accorded recently to the Mayors of the four principal cities, Messrs. Allum (Auckland), Hislop (Wellington), Andrews (Christchurch), and Allen (Dunedin), and also to the chairman of the Municipal Associations, Mr. Jordan (Masterton), and the representative of the Counties' Association. Mr. Blackley (Upper Hutt) at a conference in Wellington which was also attended by Ministers connected with defence, members of the War Cabinet, the Chiefs of Staff, and himself when general agreement was reached on lighting precautions. It was agreed that it was the bounden duty of the Government to adopt any measures that would make more difficult an attack on New Zealand by an S enemy raider. It was established that unrestricted lighting could be of material assistance to the navigation of an enemy ship, and the steps taken would materially reduce that risk. "HIT-AND-RUN RAIDS." "So far as concerns'the nature and degree of an attack which can be anticipated in this country, the people of the Dominion can be assured that the matter is under constant review to the end that the preparations may be changed in accordance with any changes in the war situation overseas," said Mr. Fraser. "As the position stands today the nature of an attack which is most likely is that of a 'hit-and-run' raid by an enemy raider bombing ports from the sea and possibly with plane or planes attacking from the air. DANGER OF FIRE. "It may be, of course, that in view of the distance this country is from any enemy base such an attack would be neither severe nor prolonged, but that if adequate precautions are not taken the result might be very serious, particularly in the loss of shipping and shipping facilities and of buildings generally. "It is well known that a plane used by a raider could carry a large load of incendiary bombs, and if measures are not taken to control the resultant fires in their incipient stage the loss of property can well be imagined Consequently, under recent regulations property owners in vulnerable ai'eas will be required to equip their buildings with first-aid and fire-fighting appliances, such as bucket-pumps and sand, rakes and shovels, and occupiers and employees in such buildings «will be required to act as fire guards capable of handling the equipment. i AIR-RAID SHELTERS. "The General Staff is definitely of the opinion that the construction of air-raid shelters at present is not warranted in view of the probable scale of air attack.

"As I have already stated, the War Cabinet has the war situation continuously under review, and if any changes that occur appear to the Government to warrant action being taken in connection with the erection of shelters, such action will be taken immediately.

"Both the Government and the Emergency Precautions Services in the more important centres have been preparing plans and obtaining necessary information with regard to alternate means of shelter from blast and flying splinters. Architects and other experts have been carrying out these surveys, and reports are being furnished to the Government. This question is being kept under constant review, and further definite action will be taken by the Government whenever the war situation demands it."