E.P.S. PLANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 6

E.P.S. PLANS

AREA CONFERENCE. AIM FOR CO-OPERATION. At a conference of representatives of Emergency Precautions Scheme organisations throughout the district, held in Palmerston North yesterday, ja decision was reached to have a sue Ivey made affecting certain facilities i and to set up a central committee to ! facilitate co-operation, should the need j a rise. Those represented were the organisations within the city, the I‘cildmg Central Committee area, the Fox toil. Shannon. Levin and Otaki boroughs and the- Manawatu. Kairanga, Horowlieniia. and Poliungina County Councils. Mr AV. J. Minogue, Chief Postmaster. was welcomed bv the Mayor I (Mr A. E. Mansion!), Mr Minogue hej ing the chairman of the communications committee in Palmerston North. Mr Mansford presided. Addressing the conference, the chairman of the city Emergency Precautions Committee (Mr AV. B. Tennent) indicated that there were several matters on which co-operation would he valuable. In an emergency the control of traffic, for instance, should he unified ; assistance could ho given with ievacuation, the mobilisation of trained nursing staff, transport facilities, auxiliary lighting and cooking, and a number of other matters of importance. He thought that the city and the Txairanga County should ho one entity, so that this unit could he kept relatively compact. Co-operation . between well-knit units would probably produce better results than the formation of large, looselv knit bodies. STEPS ALREADY TAKEN. In a discussion on available nursing strength, .Air A. K. Drew (Manawatu County Council) said that ill his area a complete list had been made of fullytrained and partly-trained nurses. It had been found that there were a number of nurses who had experience in tilt last war. Some of the nurses were now undergoing refresher courses at the Hospital. Lectures had been arj ranged, and even splints and stretchices had been manufactured. Mr T eiinent said such a register was most valuable. Mr J. T. Boris (Shannon) indicated that similar action had been taken there. Other representatives outlined | that a large amount of work and in-1 structioii was being undertaken by the ! Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. A T arious delegates gave reports of measures taken within their districts with particular reference to medical and nursing services (it being ex-i plained that hospital services had been | very thoroughly organised) ; also sup- [ plies, transport and accommodation, and evacuation. Mr Tennent moved and Mr Jos. Batchelar seconded a motion that the districts within the area which have E.P.S. organisations should appoint their wardens, who shall take an inventory of trained personnel in nursing. also an inventory of all supplies, trucks, equipment and accommodation which could he made available in the

event of an emergency; this information to he made available so as to lie called upon through the local organisation in the event of an emergency; and that a central co-operating com-

mittee he formed comprising the chairmen of these various E.P.S. organisa.tions. with the Mayor of Palmerston North as chairman. DANGER OF EMERGENCY. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, May 1. Addressing n meeting of the police section of the E.P.S. last night, Superintendent Lopdell said the possibility of an emergency arising was regarded by the majority of people only very recently as very remote. “Unfortunately,” he said, “we are coming to the conclusion that it is not so remote.” Inspector Lopdell said that where shells were mostly likely to be dropped was round tile" wharves and shipping, railway buildings and and yards, freezing works, and other similar objectives. It was stated during the evening that 600 additional men were required I for the emergency police.