COUNTRY EVACUATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 55, 6 March 1942, Page 2

COUNTRY EVACUATION

DEPUTATION TO RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL DEFINITE SCHEME URGED Close collaboration between the Marton Borough Council, the Rangitikei County Council, and the Home Guard on the question of forming a country E.P.S. organisation, was urged at the monthly meeting of the County Council yesterday. It was emphasised that tlje principal object of such an organisation would be the preparation of adequate plans for the evacuation of country people, should such a step ever be necessitated by enemy invasion of coastal areas. A deputation representing the Marlon branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and the Home Guard waited on the council and discussed the formation of a country E.P.S.. and the policv which should be adopted. Several councillors emphasised that practically all able-bodied men in the country were already serving in the Home Guard, leaving a dearth <of personnel for the proposed E.P.S. Many elderly men, however, were in the third division of the Home Guard and unfit for military service. It was stressed that such men should be released for the E.P.S. The deputation consisted of Major F. J. Soler, officer commanding the Marton Battalion of the Home Guard, Mr. A. R. Birch, president of the Marton branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and Messrs. J. S. B. Dudding and C. Gower, members of the branch. Riding Wardens. Some organisation should be introduced in the country similar to the E.P.S. evacuation committee formed for the Marton Borough, said Major Soler. This opinion, he added, had frequently been expressed by country residents, but only three local bodies, the County Council, the Marton Borough Council, and the Bulls Town Board, were the authorities which could deal with such a scheme. County councillors, Major Soler added, could be delegated to act as riding wardens. “We should have an organisation ready to evacuate country people if asked to do so by the military authorities, and the job must be done properly,” said Mr. Bircn. He added that the Marton Borough Council had taken the initiative in the matter of evacuation plans. The County Council did not make any move till pressed, and left everything to the borough. Cr. A. S. Coleman said the county had appointed representatives to the Marton Evacuation Committee. The fact that so many able-bodied men were already enrolled in lhe Home Guard created a problem. Few men were available for a country E.P.S. Major Soler said the Manpower Committee had authority to transfer personnel from the Home Guard to the E.P.S. Country women were concerned because they knew that in the event of an emergency, caused by invasion, their men-lolk would be serving in the Home Guard and consequently away from their farms, said Cr. L. Hammond. On the other hand, nearly all country homes had contracted to lake evacuees from the city areas, but if country people were also going to be evacuated a hopeless position would arise. Cr. G. L. Marshall said he did not think the county had been behind in allowing the borough to act first. It was more important, for people living in towns, where the population was more congested, to be organised. He thought country people would be safer in their homes, and that concentration in any one area was undesirable. The evacuation of country people would present an enormous problem. Distribution of Manpower. Referring to distribution of manpower, Major Soler said it was a wrong principle to have men coming in from the country to guard petrol stations in Lowns, where men living nearby were available for such duties. He agreed that in some districts tne Home Guard started recruiting before the E.P.S., and as a result signed up all available men. Shortage of E.P.S personnel, however, could be overcome by transfers from the Home Guard of certain men. Cr. L. E. Deacon said he was in the third division of the Home Guard and did not attend parades, but had not been transferred to the E.P.S. Such transfers, he contended, should be made automatical!v by the Government. Many elderly men in this division were unsuitable for Home Guard duties, but could not get transfers. Mr. Dudding: We should make full use of men not suitable for the Home Guard. They should be in the country E.P.S. Cr. Hammond said an organisation should be formed to take care of country people, if ever necessary. If a landing were made on any part of the coast, people in that area, when they saw an advancing army, would want to leave, but there should be somebody to take charge of such evacuation. The military authorities, of course, would be in full control, and the evacuation organisation would be subservient to the Army. The country E.P.S. should also cooperate with the town evacuation committees, and have a representation of 50 per cent, on that body. The deputy-chairman, Cr. W. Doole, said country people wanted some responsible organisation they could look to in an emergency.

“If we did have such an organisation it would restore a great deal of confidence in the minds of country people,” said Cr. Hammond. In reply to Cr. Coleman Major Soler said it was not desirable to discharge unsuitable Home Guard personnel immediately. He agreed that they should be transferred, but it was necessary, first of all, to form an organisation in which they could serve. If a country E.P.S. were formed these men would be transferred.