EMERGENCY TEST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 189, 5 December 1941, Page 4

EMERGENCY TEST

TANEATUA'S TRIAL 5 CREDITABLE PERFORMANCE i 3 Estimated on a pro rata basis the number participating in Taneaitua's initial full test of Emergency Precaution® Services ' must have constituted a record for the Dominion. Over one hun--5 dred co-operated and the trial was a most crediltable one. At 8 p.m. the chief warden, Mr A. F. McGougan and Mr Mead, the organiser gave the alarm the time of which was not previously divulg- ! Ed to the members. Within 25 minutes every unit was at full strength and at their points of duty, some ' travelling from Ruatoki six miles ■ distant. In an amazingly short time the school had been converted into an emergency hospital under of Dr. G. Maaka, a nursing siSrCek-and "First-Aiders." Beds, blankets and every available necessity were collected from numerous storing places, rushed to the school and was ready for use. Transport and communications were working with precision, the Law and Order unit had the towx» picketed and roads closed to traffic. The W.W.S.A. were working with outstanding efficiency and looking smart in their uniforms. All units were controlled from the Headquarters established in the library where the Chief Warden was on duty with Deputy Controller, Mr C. G. Lucas. Evacuees Prepared For The Accommodation and Evacuation unit stood by and had all information available when a message was received that 53 evacuees were arriving from Auckland. This unit stated that it could immediately accommodate 112 eA T acuees of varying nges if necessary and, if the number was greater, had plans ready to in a short time equip the hall with bunks and all necessary facilities for accommodation. Enemy planes bombed the factory nml the raihvay yards soon after 8 p.m., and a number of casualties were reported. Rapidly the Transport officer had despatched a truck with ambulance workers equipped. The casualties were attended to an<J transported to the emergency hospital. Bodies were checked into the morgue and identification marks etc. reported to the police. 4 Blacked Out At 9 p.m. a total blackout was ordered and very efficient it was, with pickets supplemented by the Home Guard under Company Commander A. Schmidt on duty at all vital points, at all business premises, and roads being closed to traffic. No unauthorised person was allowed in the main street. The Transport units were detailed by numbers and passed pickets only by stating the number so that the H.Q. had a complete check on all movements. Another well trained unit was the messenger service, high school and senior primary school boys being % nt the ready with bicycles to deliver despatches. A feature of the test was the absolute smoothness of the organisation all units being well trained, enthusiastic, and co-operat-ing with precision. Even the Can-/ teen unit was on the job and served refreshments to all the personnel at the conclusion of the programme. Amongst visitors present were Messrs J. L. Burnett (Chief Controller). C. G. Lucas (Deputy Chief Controller), A. Carling (Deputy Chief Controller), W. A. AifcC'racken (Edgecumbe Chief Warden), S. C. Spence (Edgecumbe Medical Warden), W. Hunter (Edgecumbe Law and Order Warden), R. F. Wardlaw (Waimana Chief "Warden), C. Wylde (Waimana) and when at the conclusion of the test criticism invited, all spoke highly of the' anisation and said they could find no weakness to criticise.