PLAINS E.P.S.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3110, 24 April 1942, Page 7

PLAINS E.P.S.

PLAN OF OPERATIONS WARDEN’S ADVICE COMMITTEES TO BE ORGANISED Plans for the organisation of an Emergency Precautions Scheme Organisation on the Hauraki Plains were considered at the monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council when recommendations were put forward by the Chief Warden, Air C. W. Parfitt and the secretary , of the Emergency Precautions Scheme, Mr J. E. Green.

They recommended, the formation of committees under the following headings as being sufficient for the time being for a rural district:

Lighting committee. —Appointments of wardens pro tern have already been made to the Lighting Committee as follows:— Deputy-lighting controller, Mr J. G. Clark (county engineer). Ngatea: N. Truss, R. C. Griffiths, Mr O’Brien (bridge). Turua: G. K. McKenzie (factory manager), A. C. Scott, F. 'U. Bell (wharf), H. G. Elvin. Kerepeehi: Mr Webster (sub-station), W. Thompson. Waitakaruru: H. A. Adams, T. Elliott. Back Miranda road, Mr C. J. Adams. Netherton: Mr Laurent (factory manager). Patetonga: Mr Brewster. Transport committee. —To consist of the riding member of the council and three others in each riding, together with assistance from Women’s Auxiliary.

Supply committee, —Central committees (the whole council) with local storekeepers in each district or their deputies. Medical, nursing and first aid. Seven women in each district or riding from Women’s Auxiliary or kindred organisations.

Communications committee. —Local post office staffs with scout masters and boy scouts in each riding where available.

Law and order.—’Local police officer and male members of local committees in each riding when called upon.

Accommodation committee. —Three women in each riding’.

Traffic control or traffic police.— Whilst the members of this service are drawn from E.P.S. registrations it is not a .part of the E.P.S. service in a rural area and. is controlled by the main highway traffic inspector. Women’s Auxiliary Committee. — This committee can be formed if considered desirable or necessary. Its functions as described under the first schedule to the regulations would be: “The co-operation of the activities of women’s organisations.” “It is suggested that each councillor in his riding should be the chairman of each of the above-mentioned committees in his riding and as such he, or the council, as the central committee, should appoint a suitable person as his deputy. In all cases it is most important that , key men or chairmen of committees or others holding important positions should have a deputy in case of accident or casualty.

“If the proposals as outlined above are acceptable to the council, subject to any suggestions or alterations it may like to make, the position of the Emergency Precautions Service would be that each riding of the county would .be more or less a separate unit under the control of the riding member, who in turn would be responsible to,, and would take important instructions from the central committee- (the full council) or the chief warden, the chairman of the council.

“The proposals as outlined above if adopted in the main, could at a later date be amended or improved upon as may be found desirable bythe central committee (the council).

“ It is-felt that if the above suggestions prove acceptable to the council that it should be possible for the respective committees in each riding to keep in touch with each other at frequent intervals without very much travelling and that the riding member in turn can report to the council each month on any matters it may be necessary to bring before the council as the ‘central committee” and the council can then give any advice or instructions that may be necessary to the riding member to pass on to the committees operat-

ing in his riding. The report was adopted as a basis for the organisation on the Hauraki Plains.

asked the chairman, Mr C. K. Fox to view the area with him. Members considered, that the question of abandoning drains should be dealt with by the whole board. It was agreed that area members bring down a report of drains which should have the clearing abandoned in the future.