OTOROHANGA E.P.S.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4560, 15 April 1942, Page 5

OTOROHANGA E.P.S.

MEETING OF MEMBERS MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED' THE PETROL PROBLEM A meeting of the Otorohanga E.P.S. was held on Monday, when there were present: Messrs V. W. Simms (Chief Warden, presiding), G. D. Hall, H. E. Walters, J. L. Wallis, W. Thomson and Angus Jamieson (Otorohanga County Council); W. McGill and A. W. Gallagher (Ngahape); E. G. Watson and W. E. Thomson (Wharepuhunga); H. E. Lawrence, F. W. G. Johnson, M. J. Hilder, C. Taylor, F. O. R. Phillips, and G. S. Ellis (the latter chairman and clerk respectively of the Otorohanga Town Board). ISSUE OF BENZINE The chairman, in reply to a question, said that each warden or subwarden was entitled to two gallons of petrol, stored in a real container and to be held in reserve. Mr Watson inquired if it wouid not be possible to get eight gallons in one container for four people, as it was next to impossible to obtain twogallon tins. The chairman replied that the Otorohanga Oil Fuel Controller insisted that two-gallon containers must be used. He had coupons in the office to be issued in an emergency. Mr Watson: What is the good of that to me living at Wharepuhunga? Why, to get in to this meeting to-day I had to get a farmer’s allowance. The clerk (Mr S. J. Fortescue) said members were entitled to petrol to attend E.P.S. meetings, and he advised Mr Watson ter apply for it at Te Awamutu, where apparently they were better treated than in Otorohanga. Mr Watson said he was under an obligation to pay back the benzine he had borrowed in order to attend that day’s meeting. The clerk replied that he would give Mr Watson a certificate which would enable him to get the benzine, either at Te Awamutu or Otorohanga. It was reported that there were no two-gallon containers in the district. Mr Watson rejoined that that was the trouble; plenty of eight,gallon tins could be got. RAILWAY CORPS Official advice was received that a separate railway corps had been formed, comprising the staff in Otorohanga. They had been instructed to co-operate with the local E.P.S. so far as their departmental duties would permit, especially in the direction of first aid and fire fighting. The local stationmaster would act as liaison officer. On the motion of Mr Phillips, seconded by Mr Johnson, it was agreed that the railwaymen should be allowed to train with the local firemen. USE OF VEHICLES Mr Watson said that at Wharepuhunga they were working much ”‘on the blind” in regard to the impressment of trucks and cars for E.P.S. purposes in an emergency, and he would like the position clarified. Mr Lawrence replied that some of the schedules had been completed but none for the northern end of the E. territory. The position there was complicated by reason of the Te Awamutu registrations being kept in Hamilton, from which office he had to obtain details. He had arranged with the Controller at Hamilton to release all the vehicles required, and when he got the completed schedules he would serve the necessary impressment notices. He emphasised that in giving particulars the actual name of the owner should be given; not that of the driver. It Was agreed that the wardens in the northern end should act with a view to expediting the completion of the schedules. THE FOOD PROBLEM Mr Phillips reported that the Provincial Food Controller had visited Otorohanga and that he had discussed with him the question of supplies, particularly flour and sugar. He had been informed that the Government were establishing foodstuff depots at Hamilton and Palmerston North, but he had suggested one “in between,” as the distances apart were too great, especially if the railway services were interrupted. He had been assured of an ample supply of sugar. There was planty of raw cane in the district, but shortage bf labour to convert it into the finished article presented a difficulty. Flour stocks in Otorohanga were to be increased as storage became available. THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY In reply to Mr Watson, the clerk said that in order to obtain the Government subsidy of £3 for £l, it was necessary that all accounts be submitted through him. He thought that expenditure on E.P.S. benzine would be entitled to this subsidy, since transport was specifically mentioned in the items in the official list. There was no limit to the amount of the subsidy, but he had been asked by the Government to estimate the amount three months in advance, a very difficult task. GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS A copy of the recent amendments to the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations was received. Mr Phillips remarked that from a cursory glance he could say that the Otorohanga E.P.S. had done all required of it, exedpt in regard to the organisation of a headquarters unit. He moved that the Regulations be referred to the Executive for examination and report. Mr Wallis seconded the motion, which was carried. THE TRANSPORT PROBLEM The Controller of Transport, Mr M. J. Hilder, asked how he was to obtain access to the benzine coupons. The clerk: I have them in the office and when an emergency arises you can come and get them. That was the official ruling. Mr Hilder contended that he was the logical person to hold the coupons. To have to chase around to get them when an emergency arose would result injthe waste of valuable time. The chairman thought there would be no risk in giving them to Mr

Hilder, as they could not be used till an emergency arose. The clerk announced that he had in the county office 295 coupons representing roughly 600 gallons of petrol. Mr Hilder said that he would need 500 gallons to be of any use. Mi- Lawrence expressed the opinion that the coupons - should be held by the Transport Controller. The wardens should hold some too. The chairman: We can’t give 500 gallons to Mr Hilder for the simple reason that we have not got it. Mr Phillips thought that Mr' Hilder and the wardens out in the country should have the coupons. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Phillips, that the Executive should look into the matter and, if there were power, allocate the coupons to Mr Hilder as transport officer and to the wardens. Mr Watson: Will supplies (foodstuffs) be sent out to the country? Mr Phillips: Supplies will be arranged in Otorohanga. You will stop there unless told to come in. MILKING THE COWS Mr Gallagher raised the question of benzine supplies so as to enable the cows to be milked in case of a breakdown at Arapuni. The chairman replied that the matter had' been taken up repeatedly with the authorities, but the replies were quite unsatisfactory, the Government maintaining that supplies would be made available if an emergency did occur. Mr Gallagher also mentioned the necessity of having benzine available so as to keep the pumps going in order that there would be water for the cattle. The chairman expressed the opinion that the Government did not realise the huge amount of petrol which would be required to keep the sheds going. Mr McGill said that if the farmers were not going to get benzine, what was the use of going to the cost of putting in engines. He moved that immediate steps be taken to ascertain the position in regard to benzine for farms. Mr Gallagher seconded the motion. The chairman said that if Arapuni were blown up, would they be justified in asking the Government for benzine to milk the cows? Mr Wallis remarked that there did not seem to be any lack of benzine judging by the way the cars were flying around at the present time. The chairman: There is plenty of benzine in the country to-day. Mr Gallagher: Why is it not being made available? The chairman replied that all the containers were needed by the Army. Mr Jamieson thought that if the benzine were in New Zealand it should be stored in 20 to 30-gallon lots for the farmers to “box on” with. The chairman replied that that suggestion had been made twelve months ago, but the authorities would not agree to it. MEDICAL AND EVACUATION The Controller, Mr Johnson, reported that the position in regard to the medical section was fairly satisfactory. It was now certain that the section was directly under the E.P.S. and the chief medical officer had approved their actions so far. He had written to the Waikato Hospital Board in regard to a supply of stretchers, but so far had not received a reply. The Home Guard would take over if they got more than what they required. Mr Johnson added that in regard to evacuees, N5O had been arranged for, while twelve empty houses in the country were available. Replying to Mr Watson, who stated that a trained nurse was available, Mr Johnson suggested that a first aid station would be most suitable ,to the requirements of Wharepuhunga. He agreed to meet Mr Watson after the meeting and then discuss the matter fully. Mr Phillips said that to black-out the whole of the Otorohanga school, which it was proposed to use as the local dressing station, would be an expensive item, so it was proposed to black-out only the Technical School and Dental Clinic. The chairman said that Dr Gould, medical superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, had told him that it would not be necessary to black-out the other school buildings where patients would be accommodated. Nurses could use torches. Mr Phillips moved that from £lO to £l5 be expended to black-out the Technical School and Dental Clinic, and £8 on the provision of a 200gallon tank, the installation of the latter being desirable in case of a breakdown in the water supply. Mr Ellis seconded the motion, which was carried. SATISFACTORY REPORTS Mr Taylor reported that the Fire Fighting section was functioning satisfactorily. Every Tuesday evening a good crowd of men attended practices and they were doing nicely. On behalf of the Law and Order section, it was reported that the conditions of the black-out were being observed fairly well. COMMUNICATIONS On the suggestion of the chairman it was agreed to supply the Post Office with a fresh list of names of wardens and sub-wardens so that the exclusive use of the telephone service would be available in case of an emergency. It was stated in regard to party lines that E.P.S. calls under the conditions mentioned above would take preference. Mr Lawrence mentioned that in Waitomo and Kawhia provision had been made for one light car to be available to enable the outlying districts to be communicated with in case of a breakdown in the telephone services. He thought the Otorohanga E.P.S. should for this purpose set aside one light car in each of its outlying districts. Mr Wallis agreed. If there were a breakdown they could send a light car out to each key man, who could then give the warning in the locality. Mr Hilder remarked that that had been practically arranged for. Mr McGill held there should be a special call to warn all to get off a party line in case of an emergency. A special ring could be devised to advise all of an' emergency. On the motion, of Mr Phillips, seconded by Mr McGill, it was decided that the Communications section should take up the matter with the Postmaster at Otorohanga.