COMPULSORY E.P.S? TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 4

COMPULSORY E.P.S? TRAINING

Mr. Breward’s Reply

SCHEME DECLARED “CUT AND DRIED”

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH January 23.

“Whatever the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Wilson, or tlie Director of E.P.S. Training, Mr. Usmar, may have said, it will be noted that they do not deny that a system of two hours’ compulsory training for I'I.P.S. personnel each week will be introduced," said the secretary of the New Zealand Council of the Royal Life-saving Society, Mr. Breward. Mr. Breward explained that the information concerning compulsory training had come to him as secretary of the council from Mr. Allan Gardner, Auckland. The letter from Mr. Gardner was dated December 21 last. Mr. Breward quoted the following extract relating to tlie training plan: “D. J. F. Langley and I had a few minutes with Mr. Usmar after a conference of E.P.S. heads, to which we were invited. In case you have not already heard of his scheme, here it is briefly: There will be nine compulsory subjects for all E.P.S. members and' two hours’ compulsory training each week. The third subject is artificial respiration, and the society’s methods will be recognized. The Royal Life-saving Society’s resuscitation certificate will be recognized in place of training, just as the St. John and Red Cross certificates will be for the first aid requirements. There will be a training school set up in Wellington to train voluntary instructors in all subjects.” From a letter received by him last .September from Mr. Langley it was obvious that the -training scheme was cut and dried, and it was known that Mr. Usmar was going to Wellington to take up his official position, said Mr. Breward.