QUESTION AND ANSWER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 67, 19 June 1942, Page 5

QUESTION AND ANSWER

DUTIES OF E.P.S.O, MR H. R. WILKINSON'S VIEWS Advantage Avas taken ol" the District Controller's visit last Monday to present him with a number of questions on behalf of the E.P.S.. in this area. Mr Wilkinson in 3iis answers made it clear that the organisation would be expected to operate as a recognised civilian bodyin the event of any type of emergency arising. The questions were as under:— 3. In the case' of an evacuation do the incoming E.P.S. personnel remain and co-operate with the E.P.S. personnel in the area evacuated to? Answer: The evacuation would of course only take place as a last resource and the Avardens would remain in the area evacuated to. 2. Has anything distinctive to be worn by Medical personnel in the event of their remaining on at hospitals and/or attending to wounded in the face of an enemy occupation of the area? If so, arc requirements 'being provided? Answer: No there Avill be no> distinctive badge other than the armlet denoting a civil organisation. 3. For an emergency of any substantial nature the Rangitaiki District Medical Section has barely sufficient personnel, male and female, to deal with the situation, in so far as it effects the civilian population. There has been a suggestion that the Home Guard requires a Medical Section of its OAA r n but does not wish this section to be built up from existing Home Guard personnel. As ■'things stand at present the Medical Section, male personnel is so limited that it can not, at one and the same time, care for the civilian population and act as a Home Guard Unit- in the event of an emergency. Is there any suggestion of asking vthe E.P.S. Medical Section to seryc two organisations? Answer: No we arc a separate -organisation and are actually only 'answerable to the civil population. 4. Does the E.P.S. Medical Sec- . lion to co-operate with the Home Guard and assist with Home ■Guard casualties, or is its duty to s the civilian population only? Answer: In case of emergency there is bound to be a certain ■ amount of mutual co-operation. But no organisation has , a right to demand services of the E.P.S; o. Identification discs: Is there "•any proA T ision for the supply and wearing of these? Answer: Yes there is a provision and that rests with the* individual organisation. ' 6. The Home Guard has made it clear to members of the Rangitaiki E.P.S.O. that if the Home Guard requires stores in an emergency it will help itself and disregard Law and Order Pickets. Have E.P.S, pickets any means of combating any irregular or unreasonable approach on the part of the Home •Guard? Answer: If the guard requires anything under E.P.S. control, it must have the necesasry authority to lifl it. 7. Has the E.P.5.0., Avhcn considered necessary, to attend to the destruction of all stocks of liquor, or is this a Home Guard privilege? AnsAver: In the event of an order coming from the Army that such stocks are to be destroyed it will be our duty to act. 8. Can anything be done in. regard to making sufficient supplies of benzine available noAv instead of leaving the position as it stands at present, namelj-, a promise that supplies Avill be available after the emergency occurs—a most unsatisfactory position? Answer: I agree that the position is unsatisfactory. The army has its reserves, but at the same time in all districts it is in the hands of Oil Fuel Controllers and the question of benzine supply is still entirely in their hands. 9. Lorry Home Guard Commanders stale that these are iiv eluded in the H.G. personnel but the Battalion Commanders can giA'e ho definite undertaking to loan ers to the E.P.S r O. in an emergency such as a total evacuation of the civilian population. {s the er-ray prepared to give the Battalion Commanders authority "to use their own discretion in connection Avith . the. circumstance mentioned? Answer-: This is also a question which must be straightened out. ' There should be no doubt in the minds of committees where the driv--ers come from. (Continued in next column)

10. Evacuation: A tremendous amount of work is involved in the making of satisfactory preparations for the complete evacuation of the Rangitaiki area: (a) Do the authorities approve of preparations being made for a complete evacuation? Answer: Yes Ave must have a scheme prepared. At the same time we hope it will be the last thing we have to do. (b) What preparation has the town of Whakatane made in this respect and to what extent is it relying on the Whakatane County E.P.S.O. to assist should an evacuation be necessary? Ansnver: That is a domestic matter. 11. Scorched Earth Policy: Has the E.P.5.0 1 . attend to the arrangements coming under this heading? If so how can this be done in this district where the personnel is insufficient for the duties already allocated? . Answer: This would only be put into operation by order from the authorities. Technical committees will be set up for that purpose.