TRAFFIC CORPS

Grey River Argus, 25 January 1943, Page 2

TRAFFIC CORPS

Part of Home Guard HON. J. O'BRIEN'S STATEMENT CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 24. Referring to the Traffic Control Corps Emergency Regulations, 1943. gazetted this week, the Minister of Transport (the Hon. J. O’Brien) who has arrived in Christchurch, explained that the Traffic Control Corps was set up last year as a military organisation . under the command of the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L.. Laurenson).

It was charged with the function of. controlling traffic in an emergency through all rural areas and on the main routes through the smaller’ boroughs. ‘‘The corps, which is attached to the Home Guard, replaces the former emergency traffic police,” he added, “It is organised in companies, each based on the area under the charge of. a Transport Department traffic inspector. Each company is commanded by one of ’hese inspectors, who, on general, or local mobilisation assumes military rank and is directly responsible to the military commander in that army area. “Within the particular areas the Traffic Control Corps would assist the Provost Corps in controlling military traffic, and would also be responsible for controlling and directing civilian traffic Control over vehicle movement during an alarm, and over vehicle lighting if the alarm occurs at night, are functions off the corps. It has a purpose in tre rural areas very similar to that of the traffic section of the law and order branch of the E.P.S. in the larger centres. “The new regulation enables me, as Mmister of Transport, to issue a warrant to any member of the corps, giving him full powers as a traffic inspector. These powers are to be exercised only when the member is called out on duty. I would add that a warrant is not issued to a member of the corps, until he has fulfilled certain training and is judged competent to exercise such authority."

The statement was issued with the approval of the Army authorities, added the Minister.