CIVIL DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 116, 19 May 1942, Page 3

CIVIL DEFENCE

NEW CONTROL SYSTEM

APPOINTMENTS MADE

The Government's appointment of three regional commissioners and a number of district controllers in connection with civil defence administration, in accordance with the provisions of the recent amendment to the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations was announced today by the Minister of National Service (Mr. Semple).

The commissioners, and the region allotted to each, are:—

Northern region, which coincides with the area covered by the Northern Military Command—Colonel F. L. G. West, of Auckland.

Central region, which coincides with the Central Command area—Colonel C. V. Cicchetto, of Palmerston North.

Southern region, which. coincides with the Southern Command area— Colonel W. T. Churchward, of Timaru.

"The commissioners, who have all had military experience," stated Mr. Semple, "will hold the rank of colonel in the Army, and will be seconded for duty with the Minister of National Service. They will be associated with the combined headquarters for the respective military districts and will consequently have a complete knowledge of all proposals likely to concern the E.P.S. and will keep the latter fully informed, through the district controllers,, of all aspects of civil defence in their relationship with military operations. CONSTANT CONTACT. "Regional commissioners will maintain constant contact with the district t controllers and will visit the various localities in their areas in company with the controllers, in order to gain i full knowledge of the working of the whole system. It is intended that the regional commissioner in each district will hold frequent conferences with | the district controllers so that matters of general policy may be continuously reviewed. The commissioners will be closely associated with the Director of National Service and myself in conection with the operations of E.P.S. organisations, particularly so far as they vitally concern the active defence services, such as evacuation,1 transport, and supplies, etc.

"The District Controllers, on the other hand, will be responsible through the regional commissioners for the working of the Emergency Precautions Services in their areas: for their complete co-ordination; for uniformity of operation and constitution; and for useful combinations where they can be advantageously

obtained. These considerations will apply both in developing the schemes and in their operation in emergency."

DISTRICT CONTROLLERS,

The Minister said that for the purpose of the system of district control, the Dominion had been divided into 16 geographical districts, to each of which a district controller was being appointed. These appointees had been selected, in the main, from the more senior local-body representatives who had had much experience of E.P.S. work in their districts. The Jollowing appointments had been made:— Northern Region.—North Auckland and Auckland Metropolitan Area, Mr. J. C. Allum, Mayor of Auckland; Waikato, Mr. H.,<D. Caro, Mayor of Hamilton; Hauraki, Major, E. Edwards. Mayor of Paeroa.

Central Region.—Poverty Bay, Mr. N. H. Bull, Mayor of Gisborne; Hawke's Bay, Mr. T. W. Hercock, Mayor of Napier; Taranaki, Mr. P. Stainton, Chief Controller of the New Plymouth E.P.S.; Wanganui-Manawatu-Horo-whenua, Mr. T. L. Seddori, Mayor of Feilding; Wairarapa, Mr. T. Jordan, Mayor of Masterton; Wellington Metropolitan Area. Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. Mayor of Wellington; Nelson-Marl-borough, Mr. E. R. Neale, Mayor of Nelson.

Southern Region.—West Coast, Mr. G. R. Harker, Greymouth; Christ-church-North Canterbury, Mr. E. H. Andrews, Mayor of Christchurch; South Canterbury, Mr. P. B. Foote, Acting Mayor of Timaru; Otago, Mr. A. H. Allen, Mayor of Dunedin; Southland, Mr. H. J. Macalister, Controller of the Invercargill E.P.S.

An appointment is still to be made for the Bay of Plenty district. "The honorary duties of the district controllers up to the present have called for much time and energy, but their new activities will make still greater demands upon them," said Mr. Semple. "Their acceptance of these important positions without remunerations is much appreciated by the Government." CONFERENCE HELD. The regional commissioners and district controllers met the Minister in conference on Friday last. All matters relating to the new organisation and the procedure to be followed by the regional commissioners and district controllers in relation to the respective E.P. services, were discussed fully. ; Matters of major policy importance as outlined to'the conference by the Minister were, also discussed. "The conference," said Mr. Semple, "was exceedingly successful, and it is clear the new departure in administration j is going to constitute a very valuable improvement in the general E.P.S. "The members appointed are all well fitted to carry out the responsibilities vested in them under the new regulations, and I am confident, after having conferred with them personally, that they will enter into their new duties with enthusiasm to assist in the general war effort and that their valuable assistance will materially improve the administration by closer liaison with the Armed Forces and the actual Emergency Precautions Ser-

vices.'