CIVIL DEFENCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 57, 25 May 1942, Page 5

CIVIL DEFENCE

BAY OF PLENTY COUNCIL APPROVAL IN ROTORUA "The feelings of the Mayors and chairmen of County Councils in the Bay of Plenty, at the meeting called by myself at Whakatane recently, was that the area should support the 'Awake New Zealand' campaign, but should also create an authority to look after the defences of the area," said the Mayor of Rotorua, Mr H. D. Dansfcy, at a meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council. "The Waikato area would, not be so interested in organising the defences of the Bay of Plenty area as they would in their own district; so it lias been suggested that we work independently," he said. He suggested that full support be given to the "Awake New Zealand" campaign, but he thought that the organisation of the defences- of this area should be handed over to the Mayors and chairmen of councils in

the Bay of Plenty, the organisation to be called the Civil Defence Council of the Bay of Plenty. Mr Dansey added thati this area comprised practically the heart of the North Island, and there was a big proportion of the island to be defended. Such a council as, proposed would be on the alert in the case of an emergency. Cr E. T. Johnson thought that it may have the opposite effect to what was desired. He thought the council should get behind the "Awake New Zealand" campaign. "Instead of helping the Home Guard by such an organisation we may be hindering it," he said. Cr R. A. Potter cited the good work already done by the "Awake New Zealand" campaign, and thought that the new council might be trying to reap the honour and glory due to other men. Letters supporting the introduction of the proposed council were received from the Rotorua Borough Council, the Whakatane County Council, the Te Puke Borough. Council and the Borough Council at Whakatane. It was decided, after discussion, to adopt the following resolution: "That this council approves and supports the Civil Defence Council, but would also encourage, assist and supple-, ment and expand the 'Awake New Zealand' campaign.