E.P.S. CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 24327, 16 October 1942, Page 2

E.P.S. CONTROL

COMMITTEE AND CDMMISSiONER AT ODDS (P.A.) PALMERSTON N., Oct. 16. “ This committee enters an (Aliphatic protest to the Government against the present system of control, which in the committee’s opinion will not produce the best organisation for protecting citizens in time of emergency.’ This resolution was passed at a meetirig of the E.P.S. Committee. As part of its fire-fighting precautions to meet an emergency the committee delegated to the city fire brigade superintendent power, to instruct business firms what fire-fighting appliances should be installed in certain business houses. The superintendent ordered hose reels, hut objection to their installation came in a letter the committee received from the Regional Comrinssionei (Colonel Giochetto), who suggested that the instructions given'- to the brigade superintendent should be withdrawn. Colonel Giochetto also suggested that owners of buildings should not be iprosecuted for failing to comply with the superintendent’s requests without the circumstances being reported and the consent of the Regional Commissioner (Colonel Giochetto) himself first being obtained through the district controller. The mayor (Mr Mansford), presiding, asked the committee who was best fitted to judge what was required to fight a fire. He did not intend to withdraw the authority given to the superintendent for the Regional Commissioner or anyone else until they could produce someone more fitted than the superintendent. He characterised the' request as presumptuous, coming from a layman. .