N.Z. CIVIL DEFENCE

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1943, Page 6

N.Z. CIVIL DEFENCE

OPINIONS OF'TECHNICAL ADVISERS.

PA AUCKLAND, March 24. ( 'Having completed a seven weeks tour of Australia, during which, at. the invitation of the Commonwealth Department of Home Security, he discussed technical matters with civil defence authorities in various parts of the Commonwealth, Mr C. W. Hamann, deputy-chipf engineer of the British Ministry of Home Security, and technical adviser to the New Zealand Minister of Civil Defence, has returned to the Dominion. Mr Hamann said that the Australian civil defence organisations had, in general, tackled their problems very seriously and rationally. Their personnel showed keenness and had achieved a good standard of efficiency. , . „ , Speaking of the position in Nev? Zealand. Mr Hamann said that his work here had practically been completed. He wished to take the opportunity of saying that although the danger of air attack appeared to be receding, and although there had been a relaxation of certain precautions, arrangements had been made whereby the civil defence machinery could at once be put into operation. ‘‘But efficiency of the service cannot be got' simply by touching a switch,” he added. “It can only be maintained by the people themselves. Japan has shown that she can send aircraft for great distances, and although there is no likelihood of blitzes on the British scale, still, one aeroplane can do a lot of damage. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain skill in the emergency services.. I ,do not want to seem ‘scary,’ but this is, in my opinion, a reasonable attitude to adopt.”