COROGLEN E.P.S.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3103, 8 April 1942, Page 7

COROGLEN E.P.S.

FIRST MEETING HELD EVACUATION QUESTION MR J. HAMILTON TO ASSIST Recently an EJ.P.S. meeting was held in the Coroglen Hall under the chairmanship of the district warden, Mr M. Minifie. The meeting opened in an atmosphere of considerable opposition to the chairman who was assailed with a continuous (fire of criticism from the Whenuakite attendance for- not having organised the district E.P.S. at a much earlier date.

Mr Liddell, while admitting that he was among those who 'had severely criticised Mi’ Minifie, challenged those whose criticism was threatening to disorganise the meeting to consider the vital issues at stake ’ and not to permit ill feeling to prevent co-operation with their warden in the work he had now undertaken.

Mr Minifie explained to the meeting that official organisation of the work had not '.been possible, until three weeks prior to the meeting in which time he had sought to have complete and reliable information to table before calling a meeting.

“The ordinary E.P.S. schedule,” continued Mr Minifie, “was to elaborate for the sparcely populated areas and a scheme more adapted to the outlying places was under consideration.

The question of where E.P.S. instructional classes should 'be held, resulted in considerable discussion when finally a motion moved by Lieutenant Bert Rushton, seconded by Mr Wilfred Hamilton “That E.P.S. instructional classes should be held weekly at Whenuakite in conjunction with the Home Guard parades as at present was- defeated in favour of an amendment moved, by Mi’ Liddell and seconded by Mrs E. Hamilton “That in view of transport difficulties the Coro-glen-Whenuakite areas each hold individual E.P.S. instructional classes to which the compulsion clause would apply, it being optional for members to attend meetings outside their own area.”

Considerable interest was evidenced in discussions on the evacuation of women and. children in the event of an invasion. Lieutenant Bert Rushton tabled a recommendation by the Whenuakite Home Guard Committee favouring the evacuation of women and children to one camp in the local ranges.

Mr James Hamilton, moving m favour of the scheme, pointed out that Dr. Hind’s services would be available to the camp and the older men of the EJP.-S. would form a camp guard, while the company so provided would avoid that panic which might result if women were isolated in smaller’ hide-outs.

Mr Liddell, opposing the Home Guard Committee’s recommendation suggested that a question of such vital concern to every resident in the district should have been submitted to a general meeting and not decided at a committee table. He considered that if the women and children could not be evacuated beyond the fighting area “which owing to the scattered settlement and limited exit seemed unlikely” then they should not be concentrated in any large numbers which must expose them to considerable danger offsetting the advantages outlined by the Home Guard Committee.

“Transport to such a general hideout area,-” said Mr Liddell/’ would congest the local roads as well as offer an easy target to enemy aircraft or even be mistaken by defending aircraft for enemy transport. In view of this he moved an amendment as follows “That the local residents be encouraged to consider individual hide-outs foi* the women and children.” The amendment was defeated by one vote.

At this stage the chairman introduced the Coromandel County Council’s E.P.S. organiser, Mr Benham, whose late arrival was due to transport difficulties. Mr Benham gave an interesting and enlightening outline of the E.P.S. work, emphasising the precautionary measures and necessity of strictly adhering to the black-out instruction.

On the question of evacuation Mr Benham said the Government alone would instruct for or against evacuation and if the latter were decided upon they would state the place where the women and children would be evacuated to which would most certainly be outside the fighting zone. In reply to a question Mr Benham said that the congregating of women and children within the fighting area was inadvisable and that in most places in the peninsula individual

hideouts for the women and children were contemplated. The appointment of a deputy warden to operate the Whenuakite area was decided upon, Mr Liddell moving that Mr Jas. Hamilton be appointed to the post, his capabilities making

him well qualified for the job. Such an appointment would be unanimously approved by Whenuakite residents.

Mr Minifie said he had asked Mr Jas. Hamilton to accept the office a month ago but added that his invitation had been declined. Mr Hamilton pointed out that he was a Home Guard member and therefore not f ree to devote the time but was willing that his services be used where they would be of the most value. Mr -Benham undertook to arrange Mi’ ’Hamilton’s release from the Home Guard so that he would be free to act as deputy-warden for the E.P.S.

Mr Hamilton thanked Mr Benham for his most instructive address andmoved a vote of thanks which was supported with prolonged applause.

A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.. 1 ■ . ' * - i'-f * •