E.P.S. PERSONNEL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 7 October 1942, Page 3

E.P.S. PERSONNEL

PROPORTION IN NEW ZEALAND STATEMENT BY REGIONAL COMMISSIONER “The number of personnel in civil defence services in proportion to population is greater in New Zealand than it is in England,” said the Regional Commissioner (Colonel W. T. Churchward) at Christchurch in a statement on manpower shortages. “The shortage of manpower applies to every branch of activity in New Zealand.” he added. “There is a definite shortage in the Army and all will agree that this must be made good.’ ’

The commissioner said the shortage of personnel in E.P.S. organisations was not as serious as first appeared. . There were several ways in which the services could be organised to counter the deficiency in members.

E.P.S. units which had suffered most in loss of personnel in the South Island were the fire and firewatching units, stretcher-bearers and rescue squads, he said. Every effort would have to be made to bring thpse essential units up to strength and other units must be trained to help them. Colonel Churchward said he had made the following suggestion to E.P.S. organisations: Enrolment of men who were either ignorant of their obligations or had refused to serve; training of units for two or three kinds of service; backing up arrangements among districts in each E.P.S. organisation; greater use of women and girls; assistance from certain Home Guard units; the attainment of greater efficiency by remaining personnel.

“It is essential to prevent a spirit of complacency becoming general.” said the commissioner. “We must be prepared. When the danger becomes less threatening, the Government will advise civil defence organisations to what extent their efforts may be relaxed. Until then, every effort must be made to bring the civil defence services to the highest state of efficiency with the numbers available, and it is the duty of the leaders to maintain a high state of preparedness.”