TRIAL EVACUATION OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Southland Times, Issue 24654, 28 January 1942, Page 6

TRIAL EVACUATION OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE

WEAKNESSES TO BE REMEDIED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 27. A trial evacuation of the legislative staffs and occupants of the offices in Parliament House was held this afternoon. Signals were given by ringing the division bells, an alert signal of five seconds being followed within a minute by an evacuation signal. Immediately the alert was sounded, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) and Ministers of the Crown, private secretaries, officials, typists, messengers and others ceased the work they were doing and made their way to the nearest corridor. The building warden, Mr T. D. H. Hall, and evacuation patrols took up their posts at various points through the buildings and as soon as the evacuation signal was given, directed those being evacuated to the nearest dispersal exit.

Two and a-half minutes were occupied by the actual evacuation, but it is hoped to reduce this time by remedying minor weaknesses revealed by today’s trial. After the evacuation a check was made of every room to see that no one had been left in the buildings other than essential personnel required to remain behind for special duties.

The all clear signal was given after this had been done and an imaginary casualty had been removed to a place of safety. The trial evacuation was followed by a demonstration of the most effective methods to adopt to extinguish incendiary bombs. Six of the British A.R.P. practice incendiary bombs were used. The commentary was given by Fourth Officer A. McJennett, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, who is liaison officer between the brigade and the EP.S. organization. He was assisted with the demonstration by a party of firemen.