RAID PRECAUTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24216, 6 March 1942, Page 7

RAID PRECAUTIONS

EMERGENCY SERVICE ATTITUDE OF TAKAPUNA SECESSION FROM CITY The right of the Takapuna Borough Council to secede from the Auckland Metropolitan Emergency Precautions Service organisation was discussed in a letter from the borough solicitor received at the council meeting last night. After a long discussion, the council decided to adhere to its, previous decision, and to ask the Auckland headquarters to consent to the necessary steps being taken. The letter stated that Takapuna could not secede from the central organisation of its own accord, nor could it make representations to the Minister of National Service with that object without the consent of the Auckland E.P.S. It pointed out that the Borough Council had entered into an agreement with the Auckland body. The Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, moved that the council write to the Auckland headquarters of the E.P.S. asking to be released from the organisation, _ and that if no reply was received within seven days, the Minister ■ of National Service be approached. The motion was carried by 5 votes to 3. CIVIL DEFENCE MAKING OF HELMETS DISCS AND GAS MASKS The local manufacture of civil defence supplies is making very good progress. It is expected that about 750 steel helmets will have been issued to E.P.S. personnel in time for the raid test on Monday morning, although production is not yet in full swing. They will be allotted to the Emergency Fire Service, medical personnel, auxiliary police and works technical group. Several thousand more will be available later in the week. It is hoped before long to have all technical and warden personnel equipped in this way. Orders for more than 5000 identification discs have been received so far by stores in the city and suburbs. Factories and other establishments with large numbers of employees are being encouraged to put in group orders with names and addresses typed on sheets in such a form that they can be photographed without transcription. It is hoped that this method, which saves a great deal of detail work, will be widely adopted. Investigations with a view to producing anti-gas respirators of the British civilian type are proceeding. No great difficulty has occurred over materials, with the exception of activated charcoal for the filter. Supplies exist in New Zealand, but not in the exact form required. If it cannot be converted, experiments may possibly be made with a view to manufacturing charcoal in the form required from coconut shells. The E.P.S. in Auckland has on issue to it 1500 respirators of the standard service type. SHELTER AT SCHOOLS HAMILTON PROPOSALS (0.C.) HAMILTON, Thursday A report on the inspection made b,y Lieutenant-Colonel R. Tilsley, officercommanding the Hamilton military area, and Mr. J. R. Baird, borough engineer, of 12 schools in and near Hamilton, with a view to advising as to the best steps to be taken to protect the children in the event of an air raid, has been received by the Mayor and Chief Warden, Mr. H. D. Caro. The inspection committee interviewed many of the headmasters. It recommended that shallow shelters of adequate numbers and as far apart as possible be dug as soon as possible, the work to be done on a volunteer basis. DISPERSAL AT WHANGAREI SLIT TRENCHES ADEQUATE (0.C.) WHANG AREI, Thursday Considered satisfactory from every aspect, Whangarei held its first trial dispersal of crowds from the business area this morning. Upon the sounding of the sirens, crowds poured from the shops and were directed by wardens to the various dispersal points. They proceeded in an orderly manner and within five minutes of the sounding of the alarm the streets were deserted, save for wardens and E.P.S. personnel on The people were directed to slit trenches close to the business area. Although thev were not called upon to enter the trenches, it seemed that adequate preparation for their accommodation had been made. TUNNELLING CONTRACTS CO-OPERATIVE WORK ALLOWED [by telegraph—-press association] WELLINGTON, Thursday Workers engaged on tunnelling work in connection with the construction of air raid shelters throughout the Dominion are permitted to enter into contracts on a co-operative basis for such work. Authority for this is given in a labour legislation suspension order gazetted to-night. LOSS OF WAGES MEN ON HOURLY The question of wages lost by E.P.S. personnel who are paid on an hourly basis in their usual employment has been raised in connection with the raid test next Monday, on the supposition that the alarm may be sounded in working hours. In reply to an inquiry, the assistant deputy-chief warden, Mr. K. L. Usmar, said yesterday that the matter had been referred to the National Service Department some time ago, but no ruling had yet been given.