NO ENTHUSIASM

Grey River Argus, 22 January 1943, Page 3

NO ENTHUSIASM

COMPULSORY E.PS. TRAINING. AUCKLAND REACTION. AUCKLAND, Jan. 21. No official information has been received by the E.P.S. authorities in Auckland concerning the suggested compulsory two-hours weekly training for personnel. It was stated that any such suggestion wbuld come from the National Service Department through the Regional Commissioner, Colonel West, who is now in Wellington. No enthusiasm was expressed in the city for such a move and the Chief Warden (Mr. J. A. C. Allum) stated that he did not. think that other than a skeleton E.P.S. could be kept going to-day. “We are in the position of a normal fire brigade,” said Mr. Allum, “waiting for something to happen, a position which is only bearable when we are told there is danger, but intolerable when informed that the danger has lessened. If an alarm came the whole organisation would spring into action. The people have done their part during the past year. Why bother unnecessarily? We don’t want to dp any work for show, but will never regret what has been done.” ' ‘ Mr. Allum said that a course tor volunteer instructors was starting m Wellington at the end of the present, month. There was little enthusiasm because the Department was arranging to engage men at salaries of tbOO [for instructional work in the four centres. NO WORD IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. The chief executive officer of the Wellington E.P.S. stated to-day that he had so far received no intsruction from the National Headquarters of the organisation fixing a minimum weekly period of training for members of the E.P.S. . Asked by an “Evening Post reporter whether he would confirm or deny the E.P.S. training statement, reported from Christchurch, Mr. Usmar said that as a Government seivant, he would make no statement at all. MR USMAR’S EXPLANATION. P.A. WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. Commenting on the report f rotn Christchurch that Mr Usmar.. Director of E.P.S. Training, had indicated to the New Zealand Council o[ the Royal Life Saving Society that all E.P.S. personnel would have to undergo two hours’ compulsory training each week, the Minister of Civil Defence (Hon. D. Wilson), said to-day that he had received an explanation from Mr Usmar that he had made no official or unofficial communication to the Life Saving Society, mentioning intention of rcquqirng E.P.S. personnel to devote two hours weekly to training. Mr Wilson said that Mr Usmar lecallcd writing a personal letter to someone associated with lifesaving! giving the opinion that certain training should be undertaken by civil defence personnel, but this was written last October, prior to his appointment to the Department.