MORE NEEDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 151, 5 September 1941, Page 5

MORE NEEDED

E.P.S. PERSONNEL

POSITION OBSCURE; Owing to the Emergency Precautions Scheme recruiting being deferred until after the »recruiting of the Emergency Reserve Corps, which comprises Home Guard, E.P.S and W.W.S.A; it has been found difficult to obtain sufficient personnel to carry out the numerous E.P.S. duties. Not long ago the Director of National Service intimated that men required for such work who had enrolled with the Home Guard could be released and transferred to E.P.S. work. However, the position is again obscure as the Home Guard's change to Army control is taking place. The Controller of the scheme in the Whakatane County, Mr .T. L. Burnett, when commenting on the lack of personnel, stated that it was not likely the position could be iiA- 1 proved until the Army had signified its programme for the Guard, after which he felt confident a sufficient number of men would become available.

The discussion arose when the Deputj T -Gontroller, Mr C. G. Lucas, reported: The Director of National Service had been furnished with Mie particulars he requested in regard to personnel. The information obtained from all committees, with the exception of Galatea,, showed the estimated personnel requirements as 365 and the actual recruitment 124. A copy of the approved transfer form from the Home Guard to the Emergency Precautions Scheme was on 14th August submitted to all Wardens. District Wardens lie suggested would probably be able to report further on the matter of personnel, and whether the essential transfers from the Home Guard to the E.P.S. personnel were being approved by the Home Guard authorities.

Mr Lucas continued to state that when the matter of establishing the Emergency Reserve Corps was at first considered a committee had been formed which had not allocated sufficient personnel as set out in the instructions which were: "Local Home Guard Committees and sub-committees have been, or will be, established where necessary in each area, with the special ditties of enrolling Guardsmen, allot-< ting them to duties in conjunction tvith established Emergency Precautions Scheme, recommending certain Commanders, and fostering the scheme generally.'^. It was decicled to communicate •vith the Home Guard Area Com- 1 raander the urgency of additional personnel being detailed to E.P.S. duties.