PREPARATIONS FOR EMERGENCY

Southland Times, Issue 24161, 25 June 1940, Page 4

PREPARATIONS FOR EMERGENCY

ORGANIZATION IN N.Z.

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON. June 24.

“For some time past the Government has recognized the necessity for a Do-minion-wide organization for the control in any locality of all essential ser-' vices when these have been suspended or dislocated as a result of any natural disaster or by enemy action,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon W. E. Parry) in a statement on the preparation of emergency precautions schemes.

The first necessity in such a case, said Mr Parry, was the provision and distribution of food and other supplies, and provision for public services. The second was a gradual restoration of the normal activities of the community. The Minister mentioned the work already done in anti-gas training and said that the following was the total number of persons who had received or were receiving instruction in air-raid precautions: Northern Military District (Auckland and urban areas), 62; Central Military District (Wellington), 26; Southern Military District (Christchurch and Dunedin), 199; a total of 287.

“I believe the work that has already been done and the ready response by local authorities and numerous other representative bodies and individuals is resulting in an organization being set up fully prepared and fully equipped to cope with any emergency situation which may arise in any part of the Dominion,” he said.