CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 9, 10 July 1943, Page 6

CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICE

REDUCTIONS IN PERSONNEL

UNIVERSAL TRAINING ABANDONED

Far-reaching changes involving considerable reduction in service for E.P.S. and E.F.S. personnel have now been decided upon by War Cabinet, according to an announcement made by the Minister of Civil Defence (Mr. Wilson) today.

"These changes," said Mr. Wilson, "have been made possible by the continued improvement in the general situation in the Pacific and have been based on a careful review following the readjustments made in the Territorial Force and the Home Guard.

"In determining the extent to which our citizens may be required to perform national duties in the* sphere of civil defence," continued Mr. Wilson, | "War Cabinet is directly influenced by what degree it considers the Dominion j is likely to be endangered by enemy action as well as by the increasing necessity of so organising our general war effort as to eliminate ajiy waste of human effort that is not entirely justified by all the circumstances. "Nevertheless, it is still necessary to| guard' against possible danger from enemy action and consequently in the re-arrangements now decided upon adequate provision has been made to retain efficient civil defence machinery to promptly function particularly in those areas Regarded as probable points of attack should anything untoward happen. v ■ "In view of those best able to judge the danger would apply more to the main centres and the secondary ports rather than to areas removed from our coastline. . BASIC ESTABLISHMENTS. "for this reason it has been decided to retain basic establishments only in the areas likely to be subjected to the kind of enemy action contemplated, and to rely on the civic authorities entirely in the other parts of the Dominion to maintain sufficient organisation to meet any contingency such as earthquakes, floods, etc. It is impossible for anyone to guarantee, however/ that there will be no deterioration in our position and emergency precautions services must be maintained under the general jurisdiction of the Minister of Civil Defence in case:they may be required to function In respect of any emergency which may arise. "In explaining the determination of War Cabinet as to future requirements, it must be pointed; out that at the beginning of this year a material modification was decided upon which reduced the front-line unit establishments in the '25 vulnerable areas to some 36,000 persons. This personnel in addition to the ordinary unit training was to take a universal course of 30 hours based on the training of all six of the front-line units, which' would have provided a highly efficient organisation. In other places a modified programme .was inaugurated1. FRONT-LINE UNITS. "War Cabinet considers - that the shove-mentioned programme is not now justified by the general condi-

tions prevailing1, and has decided to abandon entirely the compulsory universal training plan for the front-line units, arid to reduce the number of personnel required to serve in the basic establishments of those units in the 25 areas by varying percentages, averaging approximately 64 per cent. These front-line units amounting to between 12,000 and 13,000 in all will be required to attend one parade a month in respect only of the work of their own particular unit. The remainder of the personnel will be transferred to reserve and will not be required to undergo training meantime, but may, of course, be mobilised by trials if and when considered necessary.

"Local E.P.S. authorities are being requested to endeavour to secure the required number from those willing to serve in order to secure the maximum amount of enthusiasm in . the maintenance of the organisation, but it must be made clear that the principle of compulsory service has not been abandoned as it may become imperative tc revert to universal service again at any time

"The following centres," said the Minister, "are regarded as 'vulnerable areas':—Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch/ Dunedin, Whangarei, .Hamilr ton. Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier. Hastings. New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Master ton, Lower Hutt, Petone, Blenheim, Nelson, Westport. Greymouth, Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru. Invercargill, and Bluff. "The retention of fully-organised E.P.S; for war emergency purposes is not now regarded" as essential in areas not classified as vulnerable, but a special plea is being made to the local authorities concerned to ensure that the movement be kept sufficiently alive to efficiently function should the need arise.

"The Government will pay subsidies in future only on those activities directly associated with war emergency, and prior aprpoval for all new expenditure will require to be obtained. ,

"Full information regarding the readjustments outlined above is being prepared and will be dispatched to all emergency precautions" services without delay. .

EMERGENCY FERE SERVICE. "Material reductions inpersonnel and the training syllabus for the E.F.S. are also being formulated," Mr. Wilson concluded, "and these will be made the subject of a special announcement in the near future."