RAILWAYS E.P.S.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1942, Page 3

RAILWAYS E.P.S.

TRIAL AT "gREYMOUTH

Satisfactory results were achieved by the first trial of the Railways E.P.S. organisation held at Greymouth. On this occasion, the operations were limited to the first-aid and fire squads, but it is intended to hold a full-scale trial at an early date. There were 79 members listed for the first try-out, but the total roll is over 300. The operations were in charge of the local controller, Mr. E. R. Latimer (Workshops Foreman). One of the assumptions was that the locomotive depot had been bombed and that the roof was on fire. The “outbreak" was judged to have been efficiently dealt with by bucket pumps. The Borough water-main at the rear of the depot was used, and several fires in the vicinity of the workshops were extinguished in good time.

"Casualties" were treated by the first-aid squad in the workshops and at the locomotive depot, and the members demonstrated a satisfactory standard of efficiency. Twelve of the workshops staff have already passed their first-aid test. The con-

struction of a first-aid room is to be commenced shortly, its location to be the triangular piece of ground near Herbert Street, in the vicinity of the Dispatch Foundry. The building will be 26ft x 15ft, and the intention is to equip it fully, so that, if necessary, it will be of the standard required for a doctor. Planned to operate as a complete unit, the railways organisation comprises demolition, first-aid, fire, and patrol squads, and these will be available in the event of any class of possible enemy action. The various emergency, apart from that caused by squads have been practising for the past 15 months. Some trenches are now in course of construction, and others are planned.

Mr. Latimer expressed satisfaction with the result of the initial trial, and stated that the value of the organisation would be even more fully apparent when the proposed full-scale test was canned out.