ANTI-GAS TRAINING

Evening Star, Issue 23124, 25 November 1938, Page 3

ANTI-GAS TRAINING

CLASSES TO BE SET UP IN FOUR CENTRES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 24. Classes to receive instruction in antigas training are to be set up in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin as a precaution against gas attacks from the air, according to a circular received by the Eastbourne Borough Council at its meeting last night from the Minister of internal Affairs (Mr Parry). The liability of the Dominion to attacks from the air had been under consideration for some time by a special committee set up by the Government, said the circular. Arising out of the deliberations of the committee, a tentative scheme for the dissemination of information about precautionary and remedial measures against gas attacks by air had beeu drawn up. The classes to be created would be conducted under the auspices of the Army Department, and were to be confined to elementary training in the treatment of gas casualties and the work of decontamination. It was desired that the personnel of such classes should be drawn from the employees of local authorities and organisations engaged in first aid work, together with the officers of State departments such as the police and the Army. It was considered desirable that training should begin in the four main centres. It was proposed to limit the classes to 20. They would be composed of six police officers, six municipal officers (tor decontamination and repair work). Four first aid men, and four fire brigademen. The Minister asked for the eo-opera-tion of the council, as local bodies would he a vital unit in organisation in the case of an emergency.