SAFETY OF PEOPLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 8

SAFETY OF PEOPLE

TWO PRINCIPLES

DISPERSAL ■& SHELTER

The -following authoritative outline of the broad policy which is guiding the provision of protection to all citizens, against danger in the event of attack was given today

to a "Post" reporter:— •

In regard to. the question of public shelters, the fact should not be overlooked that this forms, a relatively minor consideration, in so far as general protection of the citizens of Wellington City and the suburbs is . concerned. The time has now arrived, when it is ! desirable to clear up misconception ! which may exist on this very important matter. " . t SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. In suburban areas the first line of protection is the construction of domestic slit trenches on private properties. These can be alternated or supplemented by shelter in concrete garages. The construction of- this form of protection is purely a matter for the householder, and- if he has not himself provided this protection he alone is to blame. ■ . In certain areas in these outer suburbs which lie adjacent to dangerous industrial installations the construction of slit trenches will not be permitted, and protection can only be afforded by dispersal from those particular localities. These localities will be indicated to the district wardens. Secondary protection in the suburban areas is being provided by means of dispersal into r-contiguous gullies and to the open ■ spaces, as of the Town Belt and. parks. The E.P.S., augmented by compulsory enrolments, is now in a position to carry out these practice dispersals in the various wardens' districts. INNER RESIDENTIAL AREAS. Coming nearer to the city, there are certain residential areas where the principle of the construction of individual refuge trenches is not entirely satisfactory on account of the proximity of wooden buildings^ one to the other and the high fire risk which may develop. In such areas it is proposed to rely upon the principle of dispersal to adjacent gullies, the Town Belt, etc., which in these localities, fortunately, are available. This, however, does not mean that householders should not have individual protection in shelters or adapted garages. If any public shelters are erected in these areas they will be constructed to provide only for the moving population, in the vicinity of shopping centres. . In the next belt, nearing the business area of the city, there is a combination of semi-industrial, commercial, and residential areas (as Mount Cook, Te Aro Flat, Thorndon). In such areas the mass of the population is such: that general dispersal presents difficulty, and in certain: critical areas the construction of public shelters is now in progress. DISPERSAL FROM CITY PROPER. In the city proper reliance in the matter of shelter provision is being placed primarily on the construction of shelters in modern, steel-framed, and heavily reinforced concrete buildings, combined with, the dispersal programme through existing streets and access ways now being constructed and being indicated by notices, arrow lines, etc. It is considered that very full protection can be provided in buildings for at least 16,000 people, and that shelter should be completed within three months if labour and materials are available.

I This form of protection will be augmented wherever practicable by the construction of public shelters, which will take the form of covered trenches, concrete surface shelters, and the construction of shelter in vacant allotments and reserves. For the residue of the population in the city area proper reliance must be placed upon dispersal. In the event of insufficient warning being given for dispersal to commence people must take temporary cover, in whatever shelter in buildings or elsewhere may be immediately available, and then disperse as directed by wardens, police, and E.P.S. officials. PARTICULAR PROBLEMS HERE. Wellington, it will be realised, provides problems different from those of other cities. The position of the Town Belt and of open spaces around the city offers means of immediate dispersal which in other cases are not available. Taking this fact into consideration, it will be seen that a very large degree of protection has been worked out to cover not only the city but the whole of the suburban areas. In both the city and suburban areas the principle of\ dispersion holds. In the suburban residential areas people are already well dispersed in homes separated by gardens and lawns, and streets. Their individual trenches also are well separated.

If the warning can be given with a sufficient margin of time dispersal can very simply be arranged also for the whole of the inner and central city areas. The construction of shelter both in city buildings and shelters in streets and on open spaces is considered only as an auxiliary to dispersal, or if insufficient time is available for a com* plete dispersal to be carried out.

Practice trials have already been commenced within a limited number of buildings in the central area. These will be increased immediately and extended progressively throughout the whole city and suburban areas.