GERALDINE PREPARING FOR EMERGENCY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21448, 12 September 1939, Page 3

GERALDINE PREPARING FOR EMERGENCY

Committees’ Report Labour Party’s Offer Reports of progress made to date were given by chairmen of committees at a meeting of the Geraldine Emergency Precautions Committee. The Major (Mr D. C. McKechnie) presided. For the accommodation committee, Mr J. Acland said that a good deal of work had been carried out. Fie had been in touch with the Timaru Emergency Precautions Committee who had moved fairly swiftly. They already had a list of people who (if the need arose) would be evacuated. The accommodation that had been sent out .he said, also asked for information that would be handed to the committees concerned. Everyone had been very ready to give help and assistance. Superintendent C. C. Knight, for the fire committee, said that the brigade was always ready to deal with any emergency in peace time, and the application of service to war conditions did not require much detailed changes. He had a reserve squad of former firemen, who were available for duty, and j at least six very efficient boy scouts capable of assisting. If someone were prepared to give or loan a trailer, suitable for fitting out with an auxiliary pump unit, it would be valuable for j dealing with district fires Bucket pumps would be useful in dealing with incipient or small fires It was agreed on the suggestion of Mr Knight to insure the auxiliary firemen. For the medical committee, Dr L. C. Mail reported that a committee had been set up and representatives of the Red Cross, dental and chemist p”3fessions. The work of the Red Cross was in the capable hands of Mrs J. M. H. Tripp and a depot was being established in the town. The chairman of the .supply com-* mittee (Mr A. J. Bul’mester) reported that a strong committee had been formed. Social Club Formed Mr P. M. McKenzie said that the Labour Parly would cease to function in Geraldine during the period of the war, and their social committee had decided to form a Geraldine Social Club which would hand any funds raised to the central patriotic fund. Mr McKenzie’s offer was accepted with thanks, and the Mayor said that he was investigating the setting up of a central patriotic fund in Geraldine. It was hoped to work through existing organisations as much as possible and to avoid overlapping. Mr McKenzie’s offer was a good start, he said. TO ASSIST RED CROSS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The suggestion made recently by the Geraldine Horticultural Society to hold a daffodil day in aid of tV Geraldine Centennial Funds has nc \ been postponed indefinitely on accour. \ of the national emergency which 1: ~ i now arisen. This decision was made at a meeting of the committee when it was agreed to hold a daffodil day and the proceeds to be donated to the Geraldine Red Cross. It was decided to include a class in the summer show schedule for two varieties of peas with six pods of each for the trophy awarded by Messrs M. and G. Cooper Ltd. A letter was received from Mrs F. Barker advising that she would be unable to act as judge for the decorative class at the daffodil show. The matter of securing a judge was left with Mr G. Coombes and Miss A. M. H. Howell. A motion of sympathy with the I relatives of the late Mrs H. Turner was carried in silence.