E.P.S.

Hutt News, Volume 15, Issue 34, 11 February 1942, Page 5

E.P.S.

j RED CROSS PAPIER MAC 11 M j An appeal is made lor workers in ! tlio aboyfi unit of the Ileti Cross. Six months this industry was started in Lower Hint and has resulted in many useful and necessary articles, made by a willing and enthusiastic band of workers lor the Red Cross, to be used in all Aid Posts and emergency hospitals. The articles are made entirely o! waste paper and cardboard, and are boili strony and durable, as well as being attractive. The rooms and aid posts are stocked with such useful articles as splints, kidney howls washing bowls, basins, glasses. trays, eye shades and many others, all of which would be most necessary it: an emergency and would .probably be unprocurable, but ii is necessary to keep the supplies up, as much and many more would be needed, and an appeal is made '.o all who are interested to help in this work. For further particulars ring the secretary, phone G2-2!H>. COM.MUNICATiOXS I : \ITS (Controller: H. V. Ward i The Communications Fnii i.s a section of the H.P.S. Urbanisation, The Chief Postmaster or Postmaster tas the case may be* is ihe Controller of Communications in his particular district. The Direcior-Cenerai ei the Posl and Telegraph Department is the Dominion Controlier of Communications. Controllers am.! ihe,r deputies are responsible to, and take their instructions from, the Dominion Controller. At the same time they co-operate to the fullest extent with the local E.P.S. Organisation. The primary function of the Communications unit in an emergency will be to ensure reasonable continuity of communications (telegraph, telephone, radio, postal and messengers) under enn-rsrcuiey con ditions. The personnel ci the unit consists very largely ol -ohicers ol the Post and Telegraph Department,

but also incluues a nuiubfi.' ol others such us despatch riders, Liaison ollicers. Boy Scouts, etc. The njjit is fully organized, but having regard to I lie particular nature of its- work details cannot ho ed. FIRE WATCHIXU SS'JIYiGE LOWER MITT CITY Under the Emergency .Reserve Corps Registration lull, provision is 11 jlido lor the compulsory lire. pr> tecion ol' building:). The chairman of the central coniniili.ee ol' any E.P.S is empowered to give to any person or class oi' persons sucii orders and directions as he deems necessary lor the protection ol buildings t'roin tires arising lrom win' or any oilier emergency, lhere are two distinct obligations under the Regulations. One is on the part of owner of buildings to provide lirelighting equipment; the other is 011 the part of occupiers of buildings and persons employed therein, to serve as lire-patrols or fire-lighters during an emergency, and to undergo training for any such Service. So far as the second of those obligations is concerned, the chairman ol the Lower Ilutt E.P.S. has appointed a special committee (which will be known as the Fire Guard Establishment Committee) to undertake the organisation of a continuous lire watching service in respect of business premises in Lower Hutt.. This special committee is under the chairmanship of Mr. Herbert (.!. Teagle, Ludiam Crescent, and the committee has been given lull power ,by delegation from the chairman ol tiie E.P.S. to put into force the requirements of the Regulations. I'or the information of those concerned, .the following is a summary of what in required: — During ordinary hours of business no special watch need be maintained. One or more employees will be given training in the use of equipment. (2) Outside of business hours watching is to be done by two classes of fire guards (a) fire guards who are employed regularly (hereinafter referred to as "regular fire guards''j and*(b) persons "at call" who shall reinforce the regulars as soon as the alarm is sounded. ''At call fire guards must be so situated that they have means of reaching the premises within If> minutes alter the alarm j lias been sounded. (3) "Regular Fire Guards" and "At. call Fire Guards" will in the ordinary course be owners, occupiers or employee's and where sufficient, of those classes are not avail able a call may be made upon the Warden to furnish fire guards. Fin watching service by one and all is to he made compulsory (with certain u.'xemptions in lavour of Key personnel of the E.P.S.) and is expect ed to be given without payment o; reward. (4) The number of "Regular I- in Guards" for any premises will be(a) The number of hours to be cov ered and in this respect, it is not. desirable that any person should be required to do more than hours watching in any one week ; ibi Tin. area to be covered. Each watchei must be able to visit any part of th< area allotted to him wiihin t w minutes, including the time tal;e>' for his return to his base; (<■> r J hiiumber of "At Call" Fire Guard: is to be not. less than the numbe. of "Regular Fire Guards" employ ed. that is to say during an alarn tUe number Of watchers shall be a least double that on duty at othei periods. (5), During an alarm both "Re-

gular" and "At. Cull' (ire. guards iliail remain on duty and patrol , heir allotted areas continuously throughout the danger period. ( (J, Outside ol' llie alarm |ieriod it shall be sullicient. i!' tirewatchers ;isleeping on the premises and available on ;tl;irm. (7; When called upon by the committee to establish a lire watching .service owners and occupiers should immediately arrange lor the ippoint men!. <j i" oni' of their number .)r some other person employed in lie building to or;/,anise the necessary service. (S). The owner or occupier is repaired to complete his plan ol organisation ;ind submit. Iwo copies of ;anif in writing to the committee or ils approval. In doing this full letails must be supplied including li<- name;-; and addresses of bot.li 'I;igu ia i" and "At Cull" fir-.' iuards clearly indicating which is which. The hour. 1 : of duty of each 'Kiyular fin- Cuard" must b" ;iveii. (Hi Repeated "check-ups" will be nade by i'< ponsihle street patrols o see that a proper watch is being ( .|tl and the regulations observed. (10) These Kire (inan.l watchers mist be established forthwith and Tie scheme, of operation approved ay the committee.