DOMINION E.P.S.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4557, 8 April 1942, Page 6

DOMINION E.P.S.

LIAISON WITH THE ARMY REGULATIONS GAZETTED The most important feature of amendments to the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations, gazetted last week, is the establishment of regional commissioners, of whom there will be at least three, and a minimum of 12 district controllers. Announcing this, the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, said these changes were in accordance with a plan approved by the executives of the Municipal and Counties’ Associations, which had given an assurance of full support for the changes. The Minister said the amending regulations made more specific provisions about many details of the Emergency Precautions Services, but were not intended to interfere substantially with established organisations. The regional commissioners would be in a position to establish the necessary liaison between military commands and civilian E.P.S. organisations and would operate through the district controllers, whose areas would approximate the present military areas. The district controllers, who would probably be selected from senior Ideal body representatives, would, in effect, organise their regions to a stage of efficiency to ensure instant, effective operation in the event of emergency. They would be directly concerned with the question of uniformity of procedure and co-ordination between the various Government and local body EIP.S. units. Provision is made for the appointment of a full-time official to be in charge of the administration of an E.P.S. scheme. This is not compulsory, but the Minister may require any local authority to exercise it. CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEES Other clauses provide for the constitution and procedure of central committees and also ensure against possibility of a committee resigning en bloc, so endangering the whole of an E.P.S. structure. One clause provides the manner in which the right to use premises for E.P.S. purposes is acquired. Its details are new, though in accordance with practice. A typical case is the use of a church hall as a first-aid post. Authority is conferred on speciallyauthorised wardens, to a limited extent, to enter private property, including, with still further restrictions, the right to enter a private dwelling. The protection and powers of special police, such as the power to arrest, are given to specially-selected members of law and order units. All other members of a unit are given the same powers and protection during an actual emergency and thereafter until the restoration of normal conditions. POWER TO IMPRESS BILLETING There can be no compulsory evacuation except by the direction of the military authorities. Subject to this condition, an evacuation unit of an E.P.S. organisation is empowered to make all the necessary preliminary arrangements for evacuation, including provisions for transport, temporary shelter, food, billeting, etc. Billeted persons do not automatically become a charge on a community, but those who are capable of paying for their maintenance must do so. There is power to impress billeting on private homes, but with reimbursement. The fire protection organiser in any* district is given authority to require the owners or occupiers of land to remove exceptional fire hazards. A general obligation is imposed on all persons to assist the members of any E.P.S. organisation if called upon; for example, a request to by-standers. Authority strengthening the original regulations is given for establishing fire-watching and fire-fighting services. The service is restricted to members of an Emergency Precautions Service. The first call is made on the workers employed in the building, or buildings, concerned. If this does not provide an adequate service, demands can be made on available members of an E.P.S. organisation. Provision is made against a deduction from wages in respect of working time lost due to attendance at parades, or on account of trial dispersals.