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CIVIL DEFENCE

Future Policy Decided By War Cabinet EMERGENCY SERVICES

Maintenance In Condition Of Effectiveness

Policy questions of vital importance to Emergency Precautions Services have now been determined which will have a direct bearing on training and time required to be devoted thereto by personnel. Making this announcement last evening, the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Wilson, said that War Cabinet, with a full sense of its responsibilities to the people of the Dominion, could be relied upon to formulate both active and civil defence measures in keeping with the conditions existing, and not to impose irksome restrictions a moment longer than was considered to be absolutely useful and necessary. War Cabinet had determined that Emergency ■ Precautions Services must be maintained in a condition of effectiveness in the meantime. “As pointed out in the statement made by me at the end of last year,” said Mr. Wilson, “civil defence measures were considered from time to time by the War Cabinet in collaboration with its expert advisers and policy is shaped according to the appreciation of the position in the light of all the information available. In tliis respect it must be emphasized that the War Cabinet is the only authority that is in possession of all the information available in this country upon which policy determinations can be made, and it is extremely unfortunate that false impressions are often created by utterances of unauthorized persons and sometimes by persons in prominent positions tliat have the effect of unsettling personnel in the belief that conditions no longer call for service on their part. Proposals For Future. “A full review” of the whole position was again carried out by the War Cabinet in conjunction with the Chiefs of Staff this week, and the proposals in respect of civil defence for the immediate future were given full and careful consideration. lamin a position to state that the War Cabinet has determined that Emergency Precautions Services must be maintained in a condition of effectiveness in the meantime, ready to spring into action immediately should an emergency arise and anyone who thinks that the position in the Pacific is so good that we can abandon our civil defence preparedness or that the position could not deteriorate as quickly as it has recently improved is living in a fools paradise. “To give effect to this policy- will call for continued training particularly for the personnel of the front line units, such as first aid, law and order, wardens, works and fire fighting, but time involved in training will be regulated to ensure only a reasonable standard of preparedness and will be based upon the present war situation and ffot upon the, seriousness of the war situation which existed last year. Proposals are now being formulated to give effect to this policy which will be subject to discussions with regional commissioners, departmental officers, and E.P.S. authorities. Compulsory Service.

“The time has certainly not arrived to justify the removal of the provisions calling for compulsory service in the E.P.S., though it’is probable that steps will be taken to fix modified establishments of well-trained personnel plus a reserve o£ others to bo called upon should the position deteriorate. It must be pointed out, however, that male personnel relieved ot any liability for training and service m the E.P.S. may be posted for service with the Home. Guard. "Special consideration was given to the question of fire-watching which was terminated hist year pending review, and it has been decided not to reinstitute continuous fire-watching meantime. Rosters of personnel will be maintained and tests arranged from time to time, but not involving the sleeping away from honie. It will be necessary, however, for all equipment to be installed and kept in "ood order and repair to the satisfaction of E.P.S. authorities who will make periodic inspections. “In view of the provisions already made in those areas more likely to be subjected to enemy action and the general conditions ruling at present, no further work on new shelters will be put in hand, and action will foe taken to complete any shelters on which the bulk of the work lias been carried out. Inexpensive utilization of the more suitable buildings. in the event of emergency, however, will be organized through E.P.S. authorities as refuges, and should provide adequate safeguards in conjunction with other protective measures included in the general operations. “Special consideration is also being given to proposalg arising oat of the report of Mr. A.’l). Wilson. Department of Home Security. Great Britain, and these will be announced as soon as finality has been reached. Trials By I'iiits. "To ensure Hint all civil defence organizations will be kept effective, the M ar Cabinet considers that tests of units will be carried out. at intervals and occasionally more comprehensive trials, consisting of several appropriate units, ’’ said Mr. Wilson. “The same course will be adopted Io maintain a proper standard of effectiveness in respect of blackout precautions. "While designed to ensure a reasonable standard of preparedness it is not. intended (hat trials la. carried out in such a manner as Io result, in unnecessary interruption of war production or other essential facilities. “1 would like to say tlml lhe present organization makes adequate provision for full and continuous liaison as between the Wnr Cabinet and the civil defence administration. Once policy is determined in I lie manner outlined above. il is made Hie subject of personal discussions i-egulai'l" between the Minister, regional commissioners, and the' Department of National Service. The regional commissioners in turn eonlaet district controllers who are responsible to them for the •■■eneral training and efficiency of Emergency Precautions Services. This system ensures that local E.l’.S. can bo Rent fully informed of the policy and thus be able to regulate training n(-cording to the need from time, to time.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19430128.2.28

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 105, 28 January 1943, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
967

CIVIL DEFENCE Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 105, 28 January 1943, Page 4

CIVIL DEFENCE Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 105, 28 January 1943, Page 4

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