A PROBLEM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 249, 13 December 1940, Page 5

A PROBLEM

SERVICES OF "KEY" MEN

EMERGENCY ASPECTS DISCUSSED The call on the services of "key' men for the operation of the Emergency Precautions Sch•eme and the possible conflict with the requirements of the Home Guard was the subject of •considerable discussion at the meeting of the Emergency Pre- • cautions Committee. It was pointed out that the precautions -scheme was essentially permanent and 1 covered possible disasters by earthquake., fire, flood or a.n epidemic, whereas the Home 'Guard 1 was for a war contingency only. It was contended by Mr L, B. Savage, local commander of organisation, that or 'key' men should be enrolled in the Home Guard andi their services ■could be made avsylable to th«j Emergency Precautions Committee in. the event of a natural disaster. If the town were threat ■ened by actual war. the civilian population would' be evacuated and in that case the Emergency Precautions Scheme would automatically cease .to function.

In opening, the meeting His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, ;said the precautions scheme, formulated by the Town Clerk, Mr D. V. 'Saunders, had received the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs and it was possible that the, occasion might arise when it could be of the greatest possible assistance to the borough. Although the Home Guard scheme was important, 'the precautions scheme also was •essential, because although the .former was', organised for possible Avar •activities, a situation not connected "vvith hostilities might require its immediate application. It was possible that the committee established would have to take control in any such event while the Government was getting its machinery ready.

OVIr IBarry added that the threat of sporadic enemy action, could not be disregarded and it was essential >thdt the town should be fully prepared. Rulings Sought. Following Mr Savage's contention, -as outlined in the introduction, Mr Saunders said that a threat to any •other part of the New Zealand coast draw the local Home Guardsmerf away from the town and if that happened the Emergency Pre-■-cautions Scheme would not have the services of the specialists and Mr Shapley added that the occasion might arise when, even in the event of enemy action, the town would .still be under civic control. Mr Henderson expressed the opin'ion that it would be wise to form the borough's organisation for emergency precautions and leave the question of evacuation to "the last. In setting up the necessary committees the Hopie Guard's requirements in the way of 'key' men} .should not be considered. That the Government had envisaged the existence of the two organisations was apparent, said Mr Saunders.-It was obvious that the threat of war over-rode all other threats at the present time, but he .-agreed with Mi Henderson. On the suggestion of Dr. E. Tewisley Dawson, Mr L. B. Savage will :seek rulings on the points raised.