COMPULSORY TRAINING FOR E.P.S. PERSONNEL

Otaki Mail, 25 January 1943, Page 3

COMPULSORY TRAINING FOR E.P.S. PERSONNEL

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 23.

“Whatever the Minister for Civil Defence, the Hon. D. Wilson, or the Director of E.P.S. Training, Mr. K. L. Usmar, may have said, it will be noted that they do not deny that a system of two hours’ compulsory training for E.P.S. personnel each week will be introduced,’’ said the secretary of the New Zealand Council of the Royal LifeSaving Society, Mr. Jack Breward. Mr. Breward explained that the information concerning compulsory training had come to him, as secretary of the Council, from Mr. Allan Gardner, Auckland. The letter from Mr. Gardner was dated December 21 last, and ho quoted the following extract relating to the training plan: “Mr. D. J. F. Langle and I had a few minutes with Mr. Usmar after a conference of E.P.S. heads, to which we were invited. In case you have not already heard of his scheme here it is briefly; there will be nine compulsory subjects for all E.P.S. members, and two hours ’ compulsory training each week. The third subject is artificial respiration, and the Societv’s methods will be recognised. Tho R.L'S.S. resuscitation certificate will be recognised in place of training, just as the St. John and Red Cross certificates will be for first-aid requirements. There will bo a training school set up in W ellington to train voluntary instructors in all subjects.” Mr. Breward added that, from a letter received by him last September from Mr. Langley, it was obvious that a training scheme was cut and dried and it was known that Mr. Usmar was going to Wellington to take up his official position.