FOR EMERGENCY

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 10

FOR EMERGENCY

RESERVE CORPS REGULATIONS COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME ANNOUNCED ORGANISATION THROUGH LOCAL BODES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 17. The Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations and Emergency Precautions Regulations were published in an extraordinary ‘ Gazette.’ Explaining these regulations, the Minister of National Service (Hon. R. Semple) said the Emergency Precautions Regulations provided legal authority for the organisation, through local authorities, of the emergency precautions scheme which was inaugurated some time ago by the Hon. W. E. Parry, and on which valuable work had already been undertaken.. The scheme was formulated to provide a Dominionwide organisation for the control in any locality of all essential services in the event of a natural disaster or enemy action

The terrible experiences of the Murchison and ' Hawke’s Bay earthquakes made it clear that a properly-planned scheme should be formulated in each district to meet any emergency that might arise, and thus avoid the natural disorganisation and chaos that might otherwise result. “Most of the local authorities, with great enterprise and foresight,” continued Mr' Semple, “ have already prepared efficient emergency precautions schemes, or have them well under way, but any local authority which has not yet prepared a scheme should do so immediately. Under the regulations local authorities which have not prepared any emergency precautions scheme c an be required to do so, but this action should be entirely unnecessary when the need for, and the value of. a carefully-planned scheme are fully appreciated. As in the case of local body schemes already established, the framework of the emergency precautions scheme wiH provide for the establishment of various committees and controllers, whose functions in the event of an emergency will be clearly defined. For example, the local controller of supplies will be responsible for the provision and distribution of all food, clothing, and other necessities; the local controller of transport for the control and distribution of transport; the local controller of medical services for all first aid, hospital treatment, pubbc health, and sanitation. Provision ■will also be made for the evacuation of the population, for law and order, and for many other important matters requiring attention in an emergency. “ Cabinet decided,” said Mr Semple', that, as Minister of National Service, I shpuld take over from Mr Parry the administration of the Emergency Precautions Scheme for the duration ‘of the war. This decision was made because i the Emergency , Precautions. Scheme forms merely one section of the,Emergency Reserve Corps, constituted under the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations, and if is mpst desirable that the functions and activities of the Emergency Precautions Scheme should be co-ordinated with the activities of the other sections of the -Emergency Reserve Corps. FOR DEFENCE. This corps has been established forthe purpose of assisting in the preparation and operation of plans for the defence of New Zealand in any emergency, and for. maintaining supplies of services essential to the life of the community. The corps will consist of a Home Guard, all emergency precautions organisations (without in any way altering their present form of organisation by' local bodies), the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, and such other organisations as may from time to time be deemed part of the corps. The Women’s War Service Auxiliary, which has already been established, is a Do-minion-wide organisation, set up for the purpose of directing and co-ordinating the war activities of all _ existing women’s organisations. This body, which is already doing very good work, will shortly be setting up committees in all the main centres. THE HOME GUARD. “ The Home Guard is the name to be given to a semi-military body which is shortly to be established iu consultation and co-operation with local bodies in all partg of the Dominion. The command of the Home Guard will be under the direction of a Dominion commander, and there will be appointed three district commanders corresponding with the three military commands; also a number of area and group commanders, all of whom will co-operate with local body committees. “ The membership of the Home Guard will be open to all males of 16 years or over who are not actively attached to any of His Majesty’s forces. The main functions of the Home Guard will be physical and military training, the provision of guards, pickets, patrols, and sentries, etc., and units for specialist duties. , , “ The Horae Guard will he available to co-operate with any of His Majesty’s forces in the defence of New Zealand, and,’ in the event of enemy action or threat of enemy action, it may by proclamation actually be incorporated as part of the defence forces of the country. In conjunction with my associate, Mr Wilson, I propose at an early date to visit all the main centres in New Zealand to discuss with the local authorities the establishment of committees in their areas for the purpose of erfrolling persons as members of the Home Guard.

“ ! feel confident there will be no need for me to make any appeal for physically fit men to join up with the Home Guard when it is established in their districts. It is already abundantly evident that there are thousands of people in New Zealand who have only been awaiting a lead of this nature to enable them to take some more active part in the war effort.”