EMERGENCY PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23470, 6 October 1939, Page 10

EMERGENCY PLAN

FEATtfRES OF SCHEME AUCKLAND ORGANISATION CO-OPERATION OF CITIZENS ARRANGEMENTS IN SUBURBS An explanation of the steps to be employed to bring into operation the Emergency Precautions Scheme organisation wa's given by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, at a meeting last night attended by mayors and chairmen of metropolitan local bodies, as well as the members of the Auckland City Council. Referring in a comprehensive report to the groundwork done during the past 10 months, the Mayor said that effort had. been concentrated on the completion of .the technical side, which was the real foundation. The one dominating factor.had been the formulation of a scheme which in practice would work effectively in an emergency. It was necessary that a proper foundation should be laid and that the measures formulated should be those designed to ensure the maintenance of essential services, such as water, supplies, building operations' power, transport, sewerage and drainage, decontamination, firo control, care of sick and injured, storage and protection of fuel and evacuation arrangements. Once provision had beep made for these vital matters, the way would be open to consider means for the actual functioning of the scheme in so far as it affected the individual unit in the residential areas. Services and Supplies An assurance was given by the Mayor that' the, work of the technical group committees had been carried out with great thoroughness. Among other features, this had involved the detailed recording of supplies of many descriptions, the establishment of depots, the appointment of key supervisors and the marshalling of information as to.available man-power and other services. Householders would be fully acquainted of the part they would be called upon to play in an emergency. This would be set out in a concise pamphlet which the central committee was to issue at an early date. This, however, would not be sufficient and lie. suggested that _ each mayor or chairman, should organise his district, which could be subdivided into suitable blocks and, if required, a leader appointed to the charge of each block. Then such local organisation for nontechnical services as was required as an auxiliary to the whole scheme could be quickly" established and effectively maintained.' Districts The Mayor summarised his recommendations in regard to the organisation of the residential districts as foliows:— . , (1) That within the present technical zones there be established a series of warden districts coinciding with the boundaries of the local authority districts in the metropolitan area; and that in'each the mayor or chairman be appointed warden-in-charge, with direct contact to the technical officGrs executive. (2) That each warden-in-charge im : dertake the subdivision of his district into suitable blocks and, where required, appoint sub-wardens to the charge of; each. . ■ (3) That each warden-in-charge forthwith open a register of the names of croups of men who, with the subwardens, will be available in emergency to perform duties in- any capacity m their own district or elsewhere. Delegates expressed pleasure at the development of the plan. They lepoitcd that."there 'was 'a keen desire on the part of district organisations to assist, and it would nOw bo possible to tell the public what would be expected of them. Assurances were given that the local bodies were wholehearted m their support of the. scheme. _ The report was unanimously adopted.