SAFETY MEASURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23699, 4 July 1940, Page 12

SAFETY MEASURES

METROPOLITAN AREA ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC BOOKLET TO BE DISTRIBUTED Every householder in the Auckland metropolitan area will receive within the next few days a booklet describing the emergency precautions scheme to meet the possibility of natural disaster, or acts of war. Approximately 300,000 copies have been printed, and distribution will be made by the lettercarriers.

The booklet, which has been carefully prepared by the Emergency Precautions Scheme Organisation for Auckland, is meant to serve two purposes: (1) To describe the organisation and the duties allotted to its various subdivisions, and (.-) to instruct the householder in immediate precautionary measures and in what to do and not to do in the event of emergency, such as a very severe earthquake or an air raid.

The Technical Groups

It is explained that the information is not circulated because disaster is expected, but to give citizens some knowledge of what is expcctod of them in an emergency, especially one which would cause many casualties and wholly or partially dislocate public services and means of communication. Recipients are asked to koep the booklet in a prominent position, where all members of the household will have access to it.

The section dealing with the organisation states that the latter exists (1) for the mobilisation of man-power and resources to prepare against emergencies, including acts of war, and ,(-) to organise and protect the civil population in an emergency. It goes on to detail the nine technical group committees which have been set up to deal with information, supplies, medical and health services, police and traffic, engineering, transport, fire, _ harbour and shipping, and communications. The headquarters of each committee is notified. Appeal for Registration The system of district wardens, who are the Mayors or chairmen of the respective local authorities, is explained, and it is stated that the wardens are compiling registers of available men in groups of 10 with a leader in charge of each, also of private, motor-cars and drivers organised in the same way. _ work of _ ,the women's auxiliary is briefly described. The precautionary instructions to householders _ are concerned with measures against fire, including the smothering of incendiary bombs with sand; the need for knowledge of firstaid, and some points of general application. To these is added a list of duties incumbent on the person in charge of a house or other building immediately after a severe earthquake or other cause of general damage, including air jittnclv Householders are specially urged not to allow telephones to be used unnecessarily and to restrain those, under their charge from leaving the premises, causing traffic congestion or bothering the authorities over trivial matters. Methods of dealing with water, gas, electricity, sanitation and other essentials are described. All persons able to render service and not already enrolled in the technical groups are urged to register at the nearest local authority's office, and tli9 emergency duties of those enrolled or registered are set out in general terms.

EMERGENCY PLAN SCHEME IN AUCKLAND TRANSPORT GROUP'S WORK REHEARSAL ON SATURDAY To test the effectiveness of a scheme which bas recently been prepared, the transport section of the Auckland emergency precautions organisation will hold a rehearsal in the metropolitan, area on Saturday afternoon. This will entail the assembly; of numerous motor vehicles at selected depots and their despatch on certain duties. In the case of emergency, one of the principal duties of the transport section is to evacuate civilians from danger zones. It is also required to transport goods and materials to appropriate depots and to maintain and repair vehicles impressed into service The group is further required to cooperate with district wardens and to provide any transport these officers may need. The transport section's scheme of operation embraces the use of all types of private and commercial motor vehicles, trams and railways, but for the rehearsal only certain types of commercial motor vehicles will be employed. In view of the necessity for conserving petrol supplies, the vehicles, upon-assembly, will be given a minimum of duties. It is understood that about 150 vehicles will be engaged. •; As tliero is a possibility of telephones being put out of action during an emergency, practice in meeting this difficulty will bo gained on Saturday by .the use of runners for carrying messages. A number of Boy Scouts will carry out this duty.