WELL PREPARED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 6, 21 January 1942, Page 5

WELL PREPARED

BOROUGH EMERGENCY SCHEME ORG AN IS ATI ON ADVANCES RAPIDLY At a meeting- of the Borough: Emergency Precautions Service held last week it was revealed that rapid advance had been made in the organisation of the town area against any emergency and that all sections had' their programmes well prepared. It was stated that several meetings of the Works Section of the t Borough Emergency Precautions Seri? vice, have been held to date and the I personnel instructed respecting the I locality of controlling points in the - water service, and repairs generally :1 to water mains, drains, streets etc. i Enrolments in the Law and Order 1 Section of the Borough E.P.S. num- - her 16 and the Controller, Sergeant ; M. Parrel], stated that sLeps -were being taken to increase the person- ; nel to 30. A meeting of this/ Section, s for instruction purposes, is to be i held at a near date. > Amongst the most advanced of the r different Sections of tlie Borough [* E.P.S. is the Eire Section, where a . squad of keen auxiliaries has been . training for some months and has: „ reached a high degree of efficiency. The Pire Board has placed orders for r additional stand pipes, hose, bucket . pumps and general equipment for emergency purposes. It would ap- > pear that few householders have as yet acted on the advice given to maintain a supply of sand for the I treatment of incendiary bombs. The necessity of this simple precaution I is again emphasised. Forty-one messengers have been enrolled for service with the Botrough E.P.S. recruited from youths and lads in the Boi-ough. These boj r s are attached mainly as warden's messengers and to the messenger service of the Communications Section. ' The uninitiated can have small conception of the work involved and the responsibility attaching to the Supply and Records Section of the 1 Service. The Controller, Mir D. G. McCallum reported tl-u.it meetings ! were held with vendors of essential 1 supplies, butchers, bakers etc., and that he was receiving a maximum ' of assistance and co-operation. The ' supply scheme provides from the main business area, that distribution would be from the business premises located in King Street. The produce building at the showgrounds would be established as a distributing centre lor supplies of meat. He wished again urgently to emphasise to householders the necessity for procuring their supplies of winter fuel as soon as possible. This reserve would be invaluable in the event of an emergency, and in any case, requirements might be difficult to obtain later because of transport difficulties. 80 Vehicles Needed Arrangements were in hand for the reservation or impressment of .approximately 80' vehicles, heavy and light trucks, vans and cars, for the Borough E.P.S. Authority has now been received under which init- , ial use in an emergency. Specially printed coupons l'or issue in an emergency are on hand. It is recognised that many vehicles will shortly be laid up through lack of petrol and the Borough Council will immediately consider a scheme for ; the servicing of batteries in reserved cars through its electricity de- : partment. Trenches and Evacuation The consensus of opinion expressed at the meeting' was in favour of the provisions of air raid trenches ! at the two local schools for the use of school children. Enquiries respecting dimensions and the subsidy aspect have been made of the Minister of National Service. The matter is to receive immediate con--1 sideration by the School Committee and the Borough Council and it is ' anticipated that parents will be invited toi offer their services volun- ' tarily in this work. The Chief Warden, Mr B. S. Barry, reported that he had met in conference representatives of the Home Guard and the County E.P.S. Amongst other matters the question of the evacuation of the Borough in an emergency had been discussed. The County E.P.S. had a complete organisation to receive the Borough population in various predetermined County areas. He had yet to again confer with the County Chief Warden, Mr J. L. Burnett, respecting further details before proceeding with the lurthei preparation of a Borough evacuation scheme. (Continued in next column)

A suggestion was received that the Walrere Stream Bridge, in the Strand could be used in an emergency as an excellent air raid shelter. The Works Section is to inspect and, subject to approval, arrange suitable access. A blackout trial within the Borough is to be held at an early date, notice of which will be advertised. During the period of the trial a complete blackout will prevail and it will be necesasry for occupiers of premises on that occasion to make use of the one or more rooms: at their premises which they will have proofed against the emission of light pursuant to the appropriate regulation. The Personnel Officer, Mr Brockett, reported that adult personnel totalled 118 and messenger personnel 41, with enrolments now coming in more freely no doubt by reason of the serious situation in the Pacific. A letter was received from the Winter Show Association respecting outside lighting at the Winter Show this year. It was resolved that the Show Committee be advised that under the present regulations it would be quite impossible to permit any outside lighting whatsoever.