EMERGENCY SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25275, 12 July 1943, Page 2

EMERGENCY SCHEME

REDUCTION IN SERVICES SKELETON FORCE RETAINED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 10. Far-reaching changes, involving a considerable reduction in the service for the personnel of the Emergency Precautions Scheme and the Emergency Fire Scheme were announced to-dav. The changes, said the Minister of Civil Defence (Mr D. Wilson) had been made possible by the continued improvement in the general situation m the Pacific, and were based on a careful review, following the adjustments made in the Territorial Force and the Home Guard. It was still necessary. Mr Wilson said, to guard against possible danger from enemy action, and consequently in the rearrangement decided upon adequate provision was made to retain efficient civil defence machinery which could act promptly if needed. As it was considered that the danger would appiy more, to the main centres and secondary ports rather than to inland centres, the basic establishments were to be retained only in areas likely to be subjected to the kind of enemy action contemplated, and reliance would be placed on the civic authorities in other parts of the Dominion to maintain sufficient organisation to meet any contingency, such as earthquakes and Hoods. As there was no guarantee that tlie general position would not deteriolate, emergency precautions services would have to be maintained under the general jurisdiction of. the Minister of Civil Defence, so that they could function if an emergency arose. The War Cabinet had decided lliat the training programme arranged at the beginning of the year was not now necessary, Mr Wilson said, and consequently the compulsory universal training plan for lirst-iine units would be abandoned. In addition, the oersonnel required to serve in the basic establishments would be reduced in the 25 areas by varying percentages, averaging approximately 64 per cent. These front-line units, which would amount to between 12,000 and 13,000, would be required to attend one parade a month in respect only of the work of their own particular unit, and the remainder of the personnel would be transferred to the reserve. The districts were being asked to secure the required numbers from those willing to serve, but the principle of compulsory service had not been abandoned. * ' The Minister said the following centres were regarded as vulnerable areas: Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch, Dunedin, Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Petone, Blenheim, Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru, Invercargill, and Bluff. The Government would pay subsidies in future only to those activities directly associated with war emergency, and prior appioval of all new expenditure would have to be obtained. Mr Wilson said that material reductions would also be made in the fire services, and these would be announced shortly.