EMERGENCY PLANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24790, 15 December 1941, Page 4

EMERGENCY PLANS

PREPARATIONS IN CITY WHERE COVER SHOULD BE SOUGHT ALTERNATIVE MEASURES An Otago Daily Times reporter yesterday accompanied Mr Scoular in a survey of the city and its surroundings with a view to getting a first-hand impression of the natural protective areas available. The main point to impress on the public at the present time is that they must do some thinking for themselves and that they must not wait till an emergency arises and the siren gpes before considering what action they intend to take to protect their wives and families, The people associated with the Emergency Precautions Scheme state that there is no desire to create any scare, but that, even if the possibility of an attack from the sea may be slight, everyone should be prepared to meet an eventuality. This is not the time for fault-finding or criticism. The people should realise that the E.P.S. is out to protect them and that a lot of hard work is entailed in the process. Every assistance should, therefore, be given to the E.P.S. A survey of the natural protective areas of the surroundings of Dunedin went to show that we are very fortunate in this respect. At Anderson s Bay there are the gullies and folds and tree-covered localities which will serve the people there if cover is required. The St. Clair people have the treecovered gullies leading up to the golf links. Roslyn, Morriington, Maori Hill, and the north end of the city and residents of North-East Valley have natural cover quite handy. Caversham residents will have the old railway tunnel and the reserve on the hillside. Wherever there are gullies _ and folds, in many cases with trees in the vicinity, there is excellent cover, and where there are not other protective facilities this cover should be taken advantage of. In fact, it should be given the preference. As already stated, people have to make up their minds what action they intend to take in a case of emergency. It is no use waiting for somebody else to do the thinking for them. It may then be too late. Summing up the position, the people are asked in special circumstances to make for these dispersal areas and to decide now to which area they will proceed.

The consensus of opinion is, however, that they should “ stay put where they have a section w'hich may be trenched to a depth to provide shelter, but that in the Flat district, where rising water often prevents this being done, the building up of earth walls, with a space in the centre, should be carried out. Where neither of these works can be done the people should make for the nearest dispersal area. And they must keep off the main thoroughfares and not rush in a panic about the streets. That may mean death from our army motor vehicles.

Not many trenches can be dug in the Octagon, and the digging this morning is not expected to provide an entertainment for those who find time hanging heavily on their hands. One has only to remember how many women and children have been blown to bits in Britain through -air raids, -and are still being killed, to see how necessary it is to try to be safe rather than sorry. Mr Scoular emphasised that people in trenches should be as close to the ground as possible. Apart from the trenches in the public parks and the trenches in a householder’s backyard, shelters above ground are to be provided by the E.P.S. These will be constructed of saplings from the city reserves, and should prove of material value. The people of Ravensbourne, Burkes, St. «Leonards, and Port Chalmers, have some gullies to resort to, and the two last-named places have localities well covered by trees. It must be remembered that the E.P.S. is concerned only with the civil population. Other protective measures are the responsibility of the military. The commercial centres of a city are among the first places to, be attacked in a raid, and the heads of firms should have a plan to evacuate their employees as quickly as possible. People going to the dispersal areas should not wear white apparel! They should take food and water with them, a thermos flask if possible, and they must not light fires in their parking place. It is not suggested that a shelter, no matter how strong, can save one from a direct hit from a bomb. The object of the emergency shelter is to form a protection against flying splinters or air blast. The effects of the latter are particularly deadly. SHELTERS FOR ALL USE OF CAVERSHAM TUNNEL

The use of topographical features within the metropolitan area, particularly the side of the hills facing away from the sea; the provision of slit trenches and other reasonable protection from blast and splinter at each residence; the provision of trench protection on reserves, unoccupied private lands, and other open spaces; and the consideration of protection for persons at their places of business were the main aspects of any plan for the protection of residents in an emergency, said the city engineer, Mr S. G. Scoular, at a meeting of builders and architects held on Saturday morning to discuss arrangements. Mr Scoular mentioned that the old. disused Caversham tunnel, which would accommodate approximately 2000 people, would be adequately lighted and sanitary and water conveniences installed. A map of other dispersal areas would be immediately prepared. While it was not his wish to alarm people unnecessarily, Mr Scoular said that immediate preparations had to be taken in hand so that the city would be prepared for anything that might occur. The object of asking for the co-operation of builders and architects was to have the use of their services in advising residents on what they should do individually. In a general discussion the builders and architects assured Mr Scoular that they would assist in any way possible. • ESSENTIAL GOODS INCREASED OUTPUT NEEDED QUESTION OF HOLIDAY LEAVE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. “The Industrial Emergency Council has been sitting yesterday and to-day reviewing the industrial position in the light of the serious situation in which this Dominion, in common with other Allied countries, is placed,” said the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, to-day. “There is no need for me to stress the seriousness of the position as stated by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in the House yesterday. The Emergency Council has already made certain recommendations, and these are now receiving attention, and will be made known within the next few days. “The need for the fullest output of essential goods is so great that anything that at present impedes or prevents the acceleration of output must be removed,” Mr Webb continued. It was recognised, he said, that, with the approach of Christmas, many people would be concerned whether holiday privileges should be wholly or partly withdrawn. Some industries relied on the break between Christmas and New Year to overhaul machinery, and no doubt arrangements had already been made to carry out this work. Many workers in essential industries worked considerable overtime, and it was recognised that some

PETROL SUPPLIES DRASTIC RESTRICTION NO MORE PLEASURE RUNNING URGENT WAR NEEDS FIRST (Special) WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. The Minister of Supply, Mr D. G. Sullivan, has announced that serious reductions are being made immediately in petrol allowances. “ In the first place,” he said, “ none will be available till further notice for pleasure running, and in the second place, petrol will not be made available for any purpose which may not be regarded as essential in the public interest.” “ The present system of delivering foodstuffs and essential commodities must bs substantially curtailed,” the Minister continued. “ The Government realises that these restrictions will seriously, affect the livelihoods of many people, but the steps being taken are the result of necessity. The Government regards it as essential to the national security that our present stocks should be conserved to the utmost possible extent.

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“A large number of private carowners probably have considerable petrol in their tanks,” Mr Sullivan said, “ and the Government asks them to conserve this for themselves or their country in the emergency, and to refrain from any pleasure or holiday running in the meantime. “ From the time of this announcement, no coupons will be available till further notice, and all allowances for pleasure launches are cancelled. All licences will nead to be drastically reduced or cancelled. “All cards are being called in from the resellers,” said the Minister, “It will therefore be necessary for licenceholders to present their licences foi review before further supplies may be drawn. All existing special licences are cancelled and holders should call on the nearest district oil fuel controller in order that they may be reviewed. Urgent Reviews First “The public passenger services are being reviewed immediately with the object of eliminating any non-essential services. Everything is being done to make the change-over as smooth as possible, and licence holders can materially assist by delaying their applications for review as long as they can in order that the most urgent cases may be dealt with first. “The action now being taken,” Mr Sullivan concluded, “is necessary in the interests of the security of the nation.”

AUCKLAND PRECAUTIONS BIG PROGRAMME PLANNED SCHOOL TAKEN OVER BY MILITARY (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 14. AH the patients at the Wilson Home fot crippled children at Takapuna have now been evacuated either to their own homes or to. the Dingwall Presbyterian orphanage at Papatoetoe. About 30 of the children went to their homes and the remaining 30 went to the orphanage. It was" explained that this step was purely precautionary as also was the removal of 250 patients from the Auckland Hospital to their own homes or to the emergency hospital at the Teachers’ Training College. By this step the board had been able to create an additional .250 beds at the hospital for emergency use. „ As a result of the national emergency the Wellesley Street East primary school has been taken over by the military authorities. So far as can be ascertained this is the only school in the Northern military district which the authorities contemplate taking over in the meantime, while the first tangible evidence of its activities to safeguard the civil population against the effects of a sudden air attack were to be seen in the slit trenches appearing in public parks and private gardens. The Central Committee of the Auckland metropolitan area Emergency Precaution Service sat long hours over the week-end to give a quick impetus to the work being undertaken to meet the emergency. A further senes of decisions was announced by the Mayor and the chief warden, Mr J. A. C. Allura, late in the day. .... “In an emergency,” he said, the auick dispersal of crowds in congested areas will be essential, and the weekend has been devoted to the preparation of plans for the dispersal of crowds in Queen street and adjoining “Arising out of the order that all members of the E.P.S. must not leave Auckland without the prior consent or their superior officer, said Mr Allum. when announcing another important decision, “ there appears to be an impression- that all people should remain in the city. This is quite incorrect and in fact it will be a great help if mothers with children carry out their holiday plans. It will also be an advantage to the Railways Department and will ensure more comfortable travelling if they begin to leave right away and do not follow the usual practice of all going over a period of one or two days. With the object of helping mothers to do this, I have requested Mr W. J. Campbell, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, to close all primary schools on Tuesday.’ Mr AHum also announced the decision of picture theatre proprietors to close all Queen street theatres at 9.30 p.m. ’ This decision will come into operation as from to-morrow, and earlier closing will be arranged in future if it should be necessary or desirable. Mr Allum also emphasised that the digging of slit trenches did not represent the sum total of the proposed steps to safeguard the people from injury. Other proposals for their protection were receiving attention and would be put in hand immediately the decisions were made. Caves capable of sheltering many thousands of people are to be provided with electric light and seats by the Mount Eden Borough Council. Some of these caves have been closed up for many years to prevent adventurous children from losing themselves, and to-day volunteer workers spent many hours opening them up again.

relaxation was necessary if the output was to be maintained. Nevertheless, there were some industries engaged on urgent work where it was vital that as little interruption as possible should take place, and in such cases workers would, he was sure, respond to the call and play their part in maintaining the output of those things that were so essential to the war effort. Until a full announcement of the recommendations of the Emergency Council was made, Mr Webb said, he would strongly urge that in those industries —for instance, coal-mining—-where extended holidays were usually observed at Christmas, work should be continued right up to and including Christmas Eve. and should be recommenced not later than January 5. In the past, many workers had taken leave beyond the New Year, and it was hardly necessary for him to emphasise that every day’s absence might result in serious consequences so far as the life of the community was concerned.