EMERGENCY PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 87, 13 April 1938, Page 11

EMERGENCY PLAN

CONTROL OF DUNEDIN

COMMITTEES AT WORK

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)-

DUNEDIN, April 12.

Comprehensive and carefully-plan-ned proposals for the control of the city of Dunedin arid its suburbs in the event of an enemy air raid or of some national catastrophe such as an earthquake, fire, or epidemic, were presented at a meeting today of representatives of bodies interested in such a scheme. The Mayor, the Rev. E. T. Cox, presided and there were present representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Returned Soldiers' Association, Royal' Naval Volunteer Reserve, National Broadcasting Service, Training College, Defence Department, Legion of Frontiersmen, St. John Ambulance Association, St. John Ambulance Brigade, hospital board, Department of Health, British Medical Association, and the City Engineer's department.

In accordance with a resolution passed at an earlier meeting,, which had been sponsored by the St. John Ambulance Brigade ana the Legion of Frontiersmen, a special sub-committee appointed for the purpose drew up a proposed scheme for organisation ■of the city's resources for the combating of air-raid hazards, the details of the arrangements having been drawn from various Home Office-memoranda altered to suit local conditions. These proposals outlined in considerable detail measures to be adopted in case of emergency, including the establishment of shelters, the maintenance of essential services, the organisation of an efficient medical service, the provision of commissariat supplies, the use of Government and civic services, the operation t of decontamination arrangements, the control of rescue parties, and the evacuation of inhabitants and provision of camps for billeting civilians outside 'the danger area. In this scheme it was proposed that a central committee should have the cooperation of the defence force and police force, which would operate for the greater safety of the people.

Mr. W. D. Pirrett, of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, said that the various sub-committees proposed for the purpose of handling different details of the scheme should be set up as soon as possible and a central headquarters should be established. Tho Superintendent of Police had. advised that if the scheme were approved by the Government the police would give their full co-operation.

Major Bongard said that the Government had already set up in Wellington an organisation for national security and it would probably be advisable if the committee acquainted that, body with its proposals in order that there would be uniformity of action. .-

This proposal was agreed upon.