CIVIL DEFENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 February 1943, Page 2

CIVIL DEFENCE

CONSTANT VIGILANCE NEEDED MINISTER GIVES WARNING Wellington, This Day. The improvement in the outlook and the easing of lighting restrictions must not be interpreted as removing the need for continued vigilance, declared the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr Wilson, speaking at the opening 0 f the National Service Department’s civil defence school of instruction to-day. “The recently announced relaxations in connection with firewatching, together with the marked improvement in the war situation in the South Pacific have in some quarters created the impression that all our troubles are at an end and civil defence is no longer necessary. This is a dangerous and erroneous impression formed not from fact but largely from wishful thinking, which so swiftly engenders complacency and fosters apathy.” Mr Wilson said that far from relinquishing interest in civil defence, E PS. personnel should grasp the opportunity of becoming and remaining fully competent in all forms of their duties. In his appreciation of manpower availability h- said he was not unmindful of. the desirability of having personnel establishments fixed so that unit strength might have some stability. He hoped at an early date after consultation with regional commissioners to indicate the policy to be adopted in that direction. Other relevant questions under review were the service of youths and women in certain age groups.—P.A,