TRIAL ARRANGED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21867, 21 January 1941, Page 4

TRIAL ARRANGED

Emergency Precautions Scheme Timaru Proposal In a report to the Timaru Borough Council last night on a national conference at Wellington in regard to the Emergency Precautions Scheme the Mayor, Mr W. G. Tweedy, said that a trial of the whole scheme would be undertaken in Timaru shortly. “The conference was under the chairmanship of the Hon. D. Wilson, M.L.C., associate to the Minister of National Service,” said Mr Tweedy, "and the first business was the presentation of reports by the various delegates on the progress made in their respective districts, and it was very gratifying indeed to learn from these reports that our scheme in Timaru was so far advanced. “Emphasis was laid on the importance of all schemes throughout the Dominion being completed immediately, so that they would be able to function effectively if required. Consideration was given to a suggestion to hold a rehearsal of the whole scheme throughout New Zealand on one fixed day, but it was finally decided that each committee should hold a rehearsal of its own scheme as early as possible. I was able to report that at least one of our committees had already held such a rehearsal, and that a trial of the whole scheme would be undertaken shortly in Timaru. Danger of Attack “It is very important indeed that this should be done, and the Timaru committee had already decided to do so at its last meeting. Such a rehearsal will serve the two-fold purpose of disclosing any weaknesses in the scheme and enabling them to be remedied, and also of bringing to the public a realisation of the fact that New Zealand is definitely liable to some form of attack. With the pressure of raiders off our shores we are now beginning to realise the importance of the Emergency Precautions Scheme and the fact that it is an essential part of our war effort. In the Interests of public safety we must have as efficient an organisation as possible, and I am satisfied that after its final revision our scheme in Timaru will prove to be one of the best in the Dominion. Comparative Functions “A good deal of discussion took place on the respective functions of the Home Guard and the Emergency Precautions Scheme,” said Mr Tweedy. “In some districts considerable difficulty appears to have been experienced, and a noticeable lack of co-operation was evident. Again I was able to repeat the procedure followed in Timaru, and the very satisfactory result achieved. One point that needs to be emphasised is that under certain conditions service in the Emergency Precautions Scheme may be much more Important and valuable even than service in the Home Guard. Each is, however, an essential part of our war effort and demands the enthusiastic support of all. The instructions from the Government previously were that everybody was required in the first in • stance to enrol in the Home Guard, whether he intended to serve in the Home Guard or as a member of the Emergency Precautions Schme. This has since been changed and emergency precaution members are now asked not to enrol in the Home Guard. Provision is made for any who have done so to be discharged under the regulations. Many other matters were discussed but these were more for the emergency precautions committee than the council. The conference was well worth while and proved that at last some serious effort is being made by the Dominion to meet any contingency that may arise.” z