SHOULD WAR COME

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1935, Page 2

SHOULD WAR COME

DEFENCE against GAS ATTACK,

red CROSS PREPARATIONS,

A few days ago the Mayor of Auckland, Mr, E, H, Davis, proposed that there should be established in his city a committee to formulate plans .of action to meet possible emergencies, whether calamaties from natural forces, serious epidemics, or_ from ]h© new horror of advanced civilisation, the blasting and blighting of life from the air in bombing and gas attacks, When Mr. Davjs made this proposal he brought the thought of this abomination very near home, and probably a good many who heard or read the suggestion treated it lightly, but, remote as the possibility may be, it is so serious a possibility that New Zealand cannot remain blind to it, says a circular from the Red Cross Society. The Government of New Zealand is taking some steps to provide anti-aircraft defence, and, as the world advances to-day, anti-aircraft gun§ for the military and anti-gas Pleasures for th© civilian are bound together, Actually steps have already been taken by the Dominion headquarters of the Red Cross Society to give tuition to senior members of the society throughout the Dominion, and through them to the public, ip methods of th© defence Of the 1 " civilian population against possible gas attack. Some months ago the Dominion chairman, Mr. J. Abel, received communications from the British Red Cross Society on the subject of first aid in defence against chemical warfare, and after an interchange of correspondence asked for and was at once assured of the fullest co-operation of the British Society, which is taking a leading and vital part in the campaign of educating the civilian population in Great Britain ancj British countries generally. Literature and the special equipment and materials which are required for courses of training of first-gid students have been ordered from the British Red Cross and will arrive ip New Zealand shortly. The present Red Cross course of studies encompasses three sections, first aid, home nursing, and hygiene and sanitation, and it is proposed that members who have achieved proficiency in these three sections shall be given the opportunity of taking up a fourth-year course of instruction in th© special form of first aid in the defence of civilians against gas. It is not that the society fears that New Zealand will be so attacked in the near future, but the society does believe, very earnestly, said Mr. Abel, that no matter how far removed that possibility may appear, an organised protective step must be' taken. Furthermore, he added, though the risk of industrial gas poisoning is not great in New Zealand, where there are few dangerous industries, cases had occurred, and Red Cross workers should be competent to meet such emergencies. The courses of special instruction, he said, would be commenced in the near future, and would be placed on the society’s regular curriculum next year,