E.P.S. IN TRANSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1944, Page 6

E.P.S. IN TRANSITION

WAR TO 'QUAKE RISK

RETENTION OF STOCKS

Though Iho war risk has receded from New Zealand, it is not proposed to allow the value of the ciiy emergency precautions services to be lost. The Wellington E.P.S., the first organisation of its kind to be established in New Zealand,1 was drawn ■ up, on paper, after the Hawke's Bay earthquake in 1931, as a commonsense way of preparing against possible 'quake disaster, or epidemic, or catastrophic accident too serious ,in its consequences for normal civil institutions to cope with. The one signal service which the E.P.S. did perform was when its organisted, sections swung into step to give help after the shakes here in 1942, and did their work with expedition and efficiency that would not have been possible in a Wellington in which there had been no precautionary organisation. The E.P.S. is now returning towards earthquake or other disaster status, and the transition is not easy. "' ' " War organisation necessitated an establishment in personnel much more complex than would have. been achieved, or aimed at, in a civil safeguard, commencing as a voluntary service and widening to a compulsory service under State emergency regulations. With the diminishing threat of war reaching New Zealand directly, and the cessation of meetings and exercises, the disbandment of personnel came about automatically, except for a few central officers and men in the fire sections, who still had a'job^ to do, and a job which interested them, apart from direction or compulsion. However, there remains a real gain in the knowledge gained in building the service, so that, should there be need again to set up an emergency organisation it will be done with far greater certiinty than, could be so from a flat start. There is now . a definite plan to which to build. VALUABLE STOCKS IX HAND. War organisation necessitated also building up large stocks of equip-; ment. The value may be £50,000, possibly more, and the greater part of the equipment is in original value condition. It includes first-aid and medical and surgical stores, from drugs, bandages, ■ and instruments to blankets and bedding; works and rescue equipment, from shovels to heavy lilting gear; rest' centre and accommodation equipment;' fire-fight-ing gear of the lighter- types; steel helmets; gas warfare equipment, from decontamination chemicals to unissued respirators. Steel helmets- and gas warfare stocks may not have a high recovery value, but the rest of the equipment has. Much of the stock was purchased with substantial Government subsidy, and : besides the "official" stores there is a lot of material got together or purchased by district effort. STOCKS TO BE RETAINED MEANWHILE. These aspects, of transition from war tq earthquake status and of ultimate disposition of stocks, were discussed at a recent meeting of the Wellington E.P.S., over which the Mayor, Mr. Hislop, presided. There was agreement that the E.P.S. must be retained in such form as will make possible the immediate organisation of relief and assistance in earthquake or other emergency, but no headway was made as regards the problem of stores and equipment, nor can this be so until a positive direction is g'ven by the Government, concerned not only with its share in the stock,, but with the whole question of national safety. It was reported by the Executive Officer, Mr. V. E. Hampson-Tindale, that the Government policy, as last expressed, is that equipment shall be retained for the time being. Valuable stores, he stated, could not be left to themselves, and the loss of interest in the E.P.S. had meant that the work had fallen upon a few individualswardens, equipment officers, and others whose interest still carried on in the conviction that the organisation has a real community value. Stocktaking was completed some weeks ago; generally stores were found to be in. excellent condition and shortages were practically non-existent. Certain equipment, mainly goods of a perishable nature or subject to deterioration if left uncared for, had been withdrawn from district posts and had been stored in one of the Corporation depots. AH space there was filled, and a muck greater quantity remained distributed about the.city, some of it in premises required for normal purposes. It was proposed to bring these stocks together in a central shelter, to be held until the position was clarified, but the work could only be done as transport permitted. E.P.S. PETROL NOT TO BE USED. Besides equipment held at the various posts, a great total is held by individuals, helmets, gas masks, etc. None ■ of this should be destroyed or transferred until a clear intruction is given. There is also the interesting matter of those two-gallon tins of petrol. In, the last direction given by the National Service Department, Wellington and Auckland remained designated as vulnerable areas and were specifically excluded from the arrangements made for the disposal of emergency petrol supplies in other centres. E.P.S. petrol is not to be used for any unauthorised purpose whatever. As this was the last meeting of the committee over which Mr. Hislop would preside, members expressed their appreciation of the immense amount of wdrk he had done during the difficult period of the building of the organisation and following the 1942 earthquakes. Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the fire sections of the E.P.S., said that Wellington people could not realise just how much time and willing work had been given by Mr. Hislop, and he spoke highly also of the work done by Mr. HampsonTindale, notably during the firewatching days, unpopular both with watchers and property owners. It I said worlds for the soundness and tact with which the organisation had been built, said Mr. Dean, that no case of litigation had arisen.