E.P.S. RUMPUS

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1942, Page 4

E.P.S. RUMPUS

‘ AT CHRISTCHURCH

Committee Objects to

Commissioner

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 7. The- resignation of the committee which has organised the Christchurch Metropolitan E.P.S. was placed before i the Central Committee to-day. The . organising committee, in a letter to I the Mayor, Mr. E. H. Andrews, said I they had come to the conclusion that they and the Regional Commissioner, Colonel W. T. Churchward, could not both function at the same time, if i efficiency were required; The memj hers of the organising committee are |W. Machin (Chairman), W. S. MacGibbon, M. E. Lyons, W. H. E. Flint. I The Central Committee decided to call a meeting of all responsible mem- ' bers of section committees, at which I they will be asked: “Whether they i will choose four men to replace the organising committee, and will be I willing to accept the orders of the (Regional Commissioner; whether they , will support the organising committee 'in its contention that the Regional Commissioner should be recalled by ■ the Government ”

The Mayor said he had received ’the resignation of the committee on .August 27, but he had delayed accepting it in a hope that difficulties could Ibe solved. He had now rece’ved a i second letter. He read both letters ito the Central Committee. The first i complained of interference by Government officials with the Metropolitan E.P.S. organisation. The second .said that, until recently it had been ! possible to get imperfect, and unworklable instructions modified, but lately .there had been a Regional Commis- ! sioner placed in authority who had I issued orders and instructions which in the organising committee’s opinion were inimical to efficiency. The Minister of Civil Defence had promised that these questions should be discussed before alterations were made, and promises' were made that the Director of N?tion'-T Service and other high national officers would discuss matters with the organising committee before changes were imposed. “Instead we now receive orders and instructions in terms which are arrogant and offensive to men who, over long careers, have learned something of organisation, and which, addressed to our Chief Warden, are derogatory,’’ stated the letter. The ■Mayor told the Central Committee he had been “subjected to the same sort of thing,” His tribute to the value of work of the organising committee was supported by other speakers, and a motion was passed that a meeting be called.