DANGER AREAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24856, 4 March 1942, Page 4

DANGER AREAS

ORDERING EVACUATION DECISION WITH ARMY EXPLANATION BY MR FRASER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 3. “ The concern for women and children in what may prove dangerous areas is shared by everyone in the community, and has been the subject of an earnest and searching examination by the chiefs of staff and by the National Service Department," said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, to-day. His attention had been directed, he said, to a report by Mr C. J. Lovegrove, controller of evacuation for the E.P.S. in Auckland, to the chief warden, Mr J. A. C. Allum, Mayor of Auckland. “It must be pointed out that the only competent authority to assume the responsibility of ordering evacuation from any locality is the army, and any other arrangement might lead to the wildest confusion and chaos, which would inevitably be accompanied by tragic consequences.” Mr Fraser said. “In addition, experiences in other war zones have provided fatal nroof of how the fighting forces can be hopelessly impeded. by a panic evacuation. The War Cabinet and the General Staff are the only authorities who can possibly be in possession of-authentic information as to the degree of danger threatening any particular area, and the authority for issuing instructions must rest in the first place with the army. Immediate Action Unwise “ Very careful consideration has been given by the Government and its advisers to the necessity or otherwise for evacuating the civil population. As there can be no certainty as to when an enemy attack will develop nor the locality which will be the object of attack, it would be most unwise, in view of the disruption to the life of the community, to evacuate selected areas now. An important consideration which must be borne in mind is that essential services and industries must continue as far as possible. Our national effort must not be unduly impeded. “If it should ever be necessary to evacuate any area, those who have essential work to do in that area will be moved no further than the circumstances require. It may, however, be necessary to move women and children to some more distant locality when danger threatens and when .appropriate instructions have been issued. Until that time arrives, the people should just remain in their homes and do their jobs, going on with their work in the normal way. Plans for Evacuation

“ The Emergency Precaution Services have already been directed to prepare and maintain schedules of available accommodation, in collaboration with the adjoining E.P.S. authorities, for evacuees and plans for their reception. These precautions should be completed without delay to ensure that if evacuation becomes necessary then arrangements can quickly be made to receive and succour those whom it is necessary to move. “ The responsibility for directing such evacuation," the Prime Minister concluded, “will rest in the first place with the Army authorities, who will convey the necessary instruction to the chairman of the E.P.S. of the district. To facilitate the transnort of evacuees it will be necessary for the chairman to act in close collaboration with the military authorities and the emergency traffic police.” . DISPERSAL IN EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS TO PUBLIC (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 3. Mr Fraser made a further statement to-night on behalf of the Government on the procedure that should be followed by the general’ public, in conjunction with the Emergency Precautions Services, in respect to local dispersal and, if need be, evacuation to other areas in the- event of an emergency arising out of direct enemy action. , _ . “ The most likely targets.” the Prime Minister said, “ are the resources upon which our sea communications depend, such as ships, wharves, docks, fuel installations, etc., as well as aerodromes. For the most part these, excluding aerodromes, are near the main areas of our cities and important towns. “The question therefore arises as to what means are to be adopted to protect the large day-time concentrations of people in these areas. It is impossible to guarantee absolute protection fob everyone. Judged by the experiences in Britain and elsewhere, it is probable that there would be some casualties if an attack took place, but these would be reduced if, when an attack commenced or the sirens sounded, the people on the streets moved into the nearest building or other shelter and stayed there. Persons already in buildings should stay there. “There should be no dispersal to other areas,” Mr Fraser said, “unless and until directions are given by the E.P.S. authorities, and dispersal should then be along the routes indicated by these authorities. During a raid an open street would be the most danger - (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 3. According to an estimate supplied by the oil fuel controller, Mr G. L. Lauren,son, to-day. between 60,000 and 70,000 of the 207,000 car owners entitled to coupons had not used No. 11 when the sale of petrol for coupons was suspended on December 8. The release of one coupon involved the sale of 700,000 to 800,000 gallons, he said. By the time the coupon sales were stopped, 695,000 gallons of the 2,100,000 the public was entitled to buy with coupons 11, 12. and 13 had been bought. It was found that some coupons of each of the three numbers had been redeemed, but far more ll’s than 12’s and 13’s.