CIVIL DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23326, 20 April 1939, Page 11

CIVIL DEFENCE

POSTS IN BRITAIN REGIONAL COMMISSIONERS o " ' WIDE POWERS IN WARTIME APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 19, 6.15 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, April 38 A number of regional commissioners under the civil defence scheme, whose appointments were announced to-day include many leading figures in business, politics, and administration. The Minister of Civil Defence, Sir John Anderson, has deprecated the description of the commissioners as "dictators" for their regions, but he made it clear that in a national emergency, and particularly in event of the interruption of communications due to enemy action, important duties and responsibilities would devolve on them from the central Government. The commissioners include:—For the south-eastern region, Sir Auckland Geddes, who was Minister of National Service from 1917 fo 1919; for the north-eastern region, Lord Harlech (formerly Mr. W. G. A. Ormsby-Gore, First Commissioner of Works, 1931-36, and later Colonial Secretary); for the

north-western region, Sir Warren Fisher, who will retire from the posts of Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and Head of the Civil Service in October; for the North Midlands, Lord Trent, chairman of Boots and other companies; for tbe eastern region. Sir William Spens, former Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University; and for the southern region, Mr. Harold Butler, until recently director of the International Labour Office at Geneva, and designated as first principal of Nuffield College, Oxford.

MINISTRY OF SUPPLY REPORTED DECISION URGENCY OF QUESTION EQUIPMENT OF TERRITORIALS (Received April 19, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 18 It is understood that Mr. Chamberlain lias decided to establish a Ministry of Supply and Munitions, and that the Cabinet endorsed the decision to-day, says the political corx-espondent of the Daily Telegraph. Pointing out that the increase in the territorial force has lent new urgency to the supply question, the political correspondent of the Times says he believes it has been found necessary to create an organisation to supervise the supply of equipment, mainly for the benefit of the War Office. It would develop into a Ministry of Supply in the event of war.