DEFENCE AND E.P.S.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1942, Page 4

DEFENCE AND E.P.S.

Discussions 'have taken place regarding the provision of petrol for E.P.S. vehicles. There has also been reference to the allocation of personnel to E.P.S. or defence duties. The Mayor, as head of the Wellington E.P.S. organisation, has said that appeals will be made for exemption from Territorial service of key E.P.S. men. It is not to be assumed from this that there is conflict between defence and E.P.S. objectives. There certainly should not be. E.P.S. is really a branch, and a very important branch, of home defence. Claims upon man-power, and also upon vehicles and fuel for them, should therefore be decided according to relative urgency. Enrolment for spare-time service with a branch of the E.P.S. cannot override a call for the full-time service of a fit man with the military; but it may be that there are a number of key men whose value in the emergency scheme as experts and organisers exceeds the value they would have as single private soldiers in the Army; {The rules to be, applied are surely-those governing exemptions for industry: (1) is the work essential? (2) can it be done as well by another man (or woman) ineligible for military service? As we pointed out the other day, in reference to overlapping of man-power claims by Home Guard and E.P.S., the aim should be to fit each person into the job in which he or she can render the best service. Membership of one organisation or the other cannot be wholly disregarded—for that would result in confusion—but it cannot be allowed to prevent the transfer of men to a field of greater usefulness.

A similar principle should govern the allocation of vehicles and the supply of fuel for them. For certain sections of E.P.S. transport is essential. This has been recognised, first in the voluntary enrolment of car drivers with their cars, and then in the formal notification of intention to requisition the cars for this service. Most of these vehicles are privately-owned cars. The owners voluntarily came forward many months ago and offered them for fire patrol, ambulance, or other service. They have since used them in practices and parades, with no compensation beyond, in some instances, a very modest petrol allowance. They do not now expect any compensation, but if the vehicles are to be ready in an emergency they must be kept in running order. Arrangements have been made for a petrol supply in emergency, but this would be valueless if the cars were all out of commission. Some provision must, therefore, be made for petrol in the meantime. The owners, we are sure, do not want this for personal reasons. In fact, many of them would prefer not to have their cars out, since they might come under suspicion of selfish use of petrol. At the same time, it must be realised 4hat the community is deluding itself if it reckons on I emergency transport and fails to keep the vehicles *ready. It is satisfactory, therefore, that the Government has taken steps to review the question. Having satisfied itself that all the vehicles listed are really required, it will, we are sure, feel justified in drawing upon petrol stocks to the limited extent needed to keep the transport in instant readiness.