E.P.S. SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 263, 5 August 1942, Page 6

E.P.S. SERVICE

Fire-watching Policy To Be Reviewed MINISTER’S STATEMENT A statement that the whole policy of fire-watching of buildings was to be reviewed by Mr. A. D. Wilson, a fire service expert from England, was made yesterday by the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Bodkin. To assist him in developing the civil defence organization, Mr. Bodkin has the adviCe of Mr. Wilson and Mr. J. Hamann, technical adviser, two New Zealanders with experience of German bombing of English cities. The Minister said the E.P.S. organization in New Zealand had been considerably strengthened by the advice of these experts.

“My duty at present is to take stock of the whole Emergency Precautions Service, and I hope the result will be to increase its efficiency and give encouragement to all those who are rendering a valuable service to the community,” said Mr. Bodkin. Referring to a recent E.P.S. test in Wellington, he had seen, he said that it was valuable in disclosing weaknesses. For instance it was definitely proved that the communications system must _be strengthened. He was very much impressed with the ambulance units and the organization to deal promptly with casualties at first-aid posts, a very satisfactory feature being the prompt reporting of these incidents by the street wardens. The Minister also spoke favourably of a test he witnessed in Wanganui. “An important feature of fire-fight-ing under blitz conditions is the utilization of independent, static water supplies,” said Mr. Bodkin. “We are advised by the visiting experts that this is highly important because high-pres-sure watermains, under severe bombing conditions, are almost certain to be shattered.” Mr. Bodkin said that, generally speaking, he found a very good spirit permeating the rank and file, though he realized that the organization had been weakened by transfers to the Home Guard. .“This was inevitable,” continued Mr. Bodkin, “and it will give satisfaction to know that the whole manpower position is being reviewed and that it might be possible to strengthen the organization in the most vulnerable areas, the vital places associated with the country’s war activities.” • . MODIFICATION SUGGESTED A suggestion that fire-watching duty might be modified without undue risk was made by the managing director of C. M. Banks Ltd., in a letter received by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. Most firewatchers, the writer stated, were finding the duty very tedious and irksome, specially during daytime on Sundays. “The danger of a raid by many planes l , as can happen in Britain, seems improbable,” he continued, “and if the present fire-watchers were required to report as quickly as possible at their posts when an alert was sounded it seems that, at least during daytime at the weekends and on holidays, this would provide all reasonable protection iu New Zealand.” The secretary, Mr. E. M. Bardsley, said he had replied stating that the whole question of fire-watching bad been discussed by the chamber several times and any action or lack of action had been dictated solely with a view to co-ordinating ample protection with minimum inconvenience. Mr. Bardsley’s action was confirmed. CHRISTCHURCH MAYOR’S OPINION “In Wellington and Auckland there is continuous fire watching, and the people are fed up to the neck as far as I can hear,” said the mayor of Christchurch, Mr. Andrews, in stating that there was to be no change in the Christchurch fire watching system, which does not require continuous watching. He said the Christchurch system could be called into action in a few minutes and he did not intend to change it. The proposals for continuous fire watching were impracticable for the personnel was not available to carry it out. Referring to Wellington and Auckland, Mr. Andrews said that it was coming to a state in, those cities where the system was breaking down of its own weight. The National Service Department had issued instructions for continuous fire watching, but it was no use giving instructions .to carry out the impossible, apart from the foolishness of it. Christchurch was different from Wellington and Auckland in that the residential section of the city ran practically right , into the centre, and the E.P.S. personnel could be on the spot in a very short time. Orders to start continuous fire-wa telling had first been given by the. National Servicp Department on January 10, but if continuous watching had been started in Christchurch on that date there would have been no system at all left by now, concluded Mr. Andrews.- .