MANY SLACKERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 197, 24 December 1941, Page 5

MANY SLACKERS

GIVING NO SERVICE

The Borough is not the only locality with a high percentage of "slackers" it was revealed at the meeting - of the County E.P.S organisation executive on Monday. Mr T. G. H. Cawte, Warden for Galatea, stated that about half the residents he contacted would not join either the E.P.S. or the Home Guard saying that they "will be there when trouble comes." Mr Ciawte continued that the 1 refusals seemed to be made because the men concerned were averse to signing anything. He asked if something could be done to enrol them. The Controller, Mr J. L. Burnett, said that they could oonlly be appealed to while service was voluntary, but he pointed out that they would 1 be of no. use unless they were trained, and would be only a nuisance rushing in at the last minute. If such men would give no service then they must be asked* to keep out of the way in an emergency and not interfere with willing and efficient workers.

Department and. not the E.P.S. as at first believed. As the Department has no organisation in the district the Commissioner has been ndvised that it is the intention of the Law and Order Committee of the Scheme to finalise recruiting and training of its traffic control personnel. All members of the organisation nre to be checked for enrolment so that no> confusion will arise in the event of injury and subsequent application for compensation. Compensation has been fixed by the National Service Department as follows, these being the maximum pension disability rates —(a) an unmarried member under 21 years, £1 per week; (b) any other member, £2 per week; (c) to wife of member, £1 per week; (d) to child of a member, 10/- per week. In connection with personnel a circular from the Department suggests that in each centre where there (Continued in next column)

(s an E.P.S. organisation there should be set up a co-ordinating committee consisting of a representative of the Home Gaurd and a representative of the E.P.S. and that committee would under take the following functions; — (a) To discuss generally matters of personnel as affecting both oiganisatlons. (b) To determine, in cases where the personnel of either or both organisations is under strength, the means whereby further appeals for enrolments might be made. (c) To make arrangements whereby the local E.P.S. will be informed of the names and addresses of any members of the local Home Guard who, in the revision of the rolls, may be discharged from that organisation. (d) To consider, "in cases where the personnel of the E.P.S. is up to strength, the possibility of some suitable members of that organisation transferring to the Home Guard (e) To consider requests from the E.P.S. for the discharge of specified members of the Home Guard foi service in the E.P.S. In regard to (e) it is suggested that in any case where agreement cannot be reached, an umpire acceptable to both representatives, be asked to adjudicate, and that where this procedure cannot be followed the applications be referred to the Director, National Service, who will confer with the Diieclor-General of the Home Guard. The secretary reported that in no case have districts completely furnished as requested full information regarding motor vehicles available. Plans have been received for slit trenches. The clerk sought a completion of district statistics as asked for in the questionnaire circulated recently, and Mr A. O. SteAvart reported having made arrangements for native populations to lie accommodated and cared for. Evacuation routes had been decided upon. Numerous other details were fully discussed each district having at its command its organisation prepared very fully. The acting-county engineer also tabled a report regarding the county works section. Road? for Army use would be under military control while all other road; would be under the control of the E.P.S. The County plant, laboni and tools would be made available while the staff Avould be enlisted tc the organisation. Arrangements foi outlet for evacuation had been made with each district to act independently.