DANGER FROM GLASS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24949, 23 June 1942, Page 2

DANGER FROM GLASS

REMOVAL IN EMERGENCY POWER FOR AUTHORITIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 22. " Regulations amending the Emergency Shelter Regulations have been, gazetted for the purpose of strengthening the provisions dealing with the removal or protection of glass," said the Minister of National Service, Mr R. Semple, in a statement- to-day. "Previously, the regulations empowered a local authority or emergency precautions service, only when, authorised or directed by the Minister, to call upon the owners or occupiers of premises to remove or protect glass that, might endanger the safety of people. So that the work may be properly organised and accelerated, power has been taken for it to be carried out by or under the jurisdiction nf the Crown, local bodies, or emergency precautions services. " Should it be determined to proceed with the removal and- replacement of plate glass in dangerous areas, which will be specified by the Government, arrangements will be made for the work of removal and replacement to be done in streets or blocks to the extent found most economical and expeditious," the Minister said. "It is probable that the cost of removing plate glass and its immediate...tern-; porary replacement would-be-oarried-* out without expense to the.owner, who / would also be compensated -for any - damage to the glass or premises by reason of the operation of the regulations. The owners or occupiers would be given notice of the intention of the authorities. The protection in vulnerable areas of glass, other than plate glass, would, no doubt, have to be carried out by the owners or occupiers at their own expense. An officer of the British Home Security Department; Mr C. W. Hamann, who has arrived in the Dominion, is being consulted, and the action to be taken will be determined in the light of his recommendations and the views of the chiefs of staff, as to the possibility of enemy raids. "The consequential inconvenience to the public and the potential loss of business to the owners and occupiers of premises is fully appreciated," Mr Semple concluded. "The Government will take this far-reaching step only in the event of all the circumstances rendering such a course unavoidable."