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New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24147, 13 December 1941, Page 10

MORE PERSONNEL

FIFTEEN THOUSAND WELLINGTON DECISIONS AIR RAID PROTECTION (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Friday Shortly after receiving news of Japan's entry into the war the Government called a conference of the Mayors of the principal municipalities to consider what is necessary to bring their emergency precautions services up to standard to meet enemy attack. The meeting was held in Parliament Buildings yesterday, when representatives ot 25 local authorities assembled under the chairmanship of the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple. Full discussion ensued on personnel, trials, transport mobilisation, lighting restrictions, petrol supplies, air raid sirens and air raid shelters. It was disclosed that, probably owing to nonappreciation of the real necessity for civi 1 emergency precautions, personnel in the 25. centres was 15,000 below the estimated strength required. Appeals will be made for voluntary enrolments by the Minister and by chairmen of organisations, and if necessary other steps will be taken to secure the number of men and women required. Day and Night Trials

All organisations will immediately take steps to hold comprehensive trials in daylight and under blackout conditions. The allocation of vehicles .mder the Motor Vehicles Impressment Emergency Regulations, 1911, is to be expedited. Special orders will be issued to enforce the blacking-out of seaside cottages, of at least one room in dwellings, and of buildings or portions of buildings likely to be used during a blackout for the production of war material or other essential commodities. Steps are being taken immediately to ensure the supply of petrol for purposes of emergency precautions services consistent with the availability of supplies. Protection from Bombs

Sitting concurrently with the Emergency Precautions Service conference was a committee of engineers, architects and others, which considered the question of providing some degree of protection to the public against blast and splinters from bombs. A series of recommendations submitted during the day was adopted by the conference. These include an obligation on the part of local authorities immediately to put in hand the construction of shelter trenches in public reserves and vacant lots. Another recommendation was for the setting-up of a central technical body to guide local authorities in the work to be undertaken and to prepare plans to enable the public to construct garden shelters and trenches for themselves.

The delegates present undertook to commence preliminary operations to provide trenches immediately on their return to their towns.

The Minister of National Service promised that the recommendations of the special committee would receive the immediate consideration of the Government. PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS COMPULSION IN WELLINGTON [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] "WELLINGTON, Friday

Compulsory fire protection of buildings required by section 16 of the Emergency Corps Regulations is to be applied in Wellington at once. These regulations call upon owners of city buildings to instal equipment for first aid and fire fighting, and upon occupiers, tenants and persons employed in buildings to serve as fire guards within those buildings during periods of emergency.

There are difficulties in obtaining equipment of the types recommended as standard and most effective, and improvisation must be resorted to in the meantime.

Fire guards are internal house organisations additional to fire sections and wardens and patrol sections of the E.P.S., and are to be organised within a particular building or group of buildings, as in the case of small shops, to assist in safeguarding them. These guards will serve only during emergency periods and training periods. Business men are meeting to discuss matters.

Fire watchers should be selected from members of staffs living within 15 minutes of buildings, and girls and women r.re quite competent to act. Services will be given free. Thousands of bucket pumps of standard pattern for emergency fire fighting are on order, but supplies from overseas are delayed. Some hundreds of thousands of feet of £in. rubber hose are also 011 order.