SUCCESS IN CHRISTCHURCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 69, 23 March 1942, Page 3

SUCCESS IN CHRISTCHURCH

LARGE-SCALE E.PS. TEST (P.A.) Christchurch, March 22 Christchurch held its first large scale E.P.S. trial this morning, whei thousands of workers were at theii posts. The main object was to en sure that all personnel knew when they had to report in an emergency and what they had to do. Preliminary reports to controllers to-night sug gested that the whole organisatio: functioned well inlhat respect. Som< sections arranged more extensivi practices of their own organisations which enabled attention to he givei to co-ordinating the work of differen services. An important trial was made at :h< Christchurch Hospital, where plan for evacuation of some patients t< air-raid shelters were put int< operation. Later, the evacuation o patients, to make room for air-rai< casualties, was tried out. An assumption that the telephom service had failed half-way throug! the trial was followed by use o about 1500 messengers, most of then on motor-cycles and bicycles. The chief warden, the Mayor. Mr E. H. Andrews, inspected a number o groups at work, and afterwards sak the personnel that he had seen har carried out their duties very efficient ly, and with a minimum of delay.