“STAY IN HOMES”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20061, 6 October 1939, Page 4

“STAY IN HOMES”

POPULATION ADVISED SMALL RISKS INDOORS PLANS FOR EMERGENCY REFUGEES AND SICK “Stay in your homes,” was the tenor of advice given to householders of Gisborne, in anticipation of any emergency which may have to be met in the near future, when plans for various activities were discussed -at a meeting of the District Emergency Committee. It was pointed out that only in the event of serious earthquakes or phenomenal flooding would it be necessary to evacuate any part of the town. In the event of enemy action against the town, which was considered barely possible but extremely unlikely, there should be no fear of a substantial bombardment, and those who remained indoors would escape the possible dangers of being caught, in crowds, which might attraction attention from the air. Those present at the meeting comprised Drs. Nina Muir and A. L. Singer, Mrs. L. T. Burnard, Colonel R. F. Gambrill, Inspector G. B. Edwards, Messrs. O. G. Thornton, A. S. Muir, A. M. Robertson, L. Balfour, L. Miles, A. C. Cooke, T. Webber, F. Matthewson, R. O. Morse, T. C. Thompson, G. Beaumont, Les. W. Anderson, K. F. Jones, Oapt. R. McK. Smart, and Mr. W. M. Jenkins, town clerk. Colonel Gambrill was appointed chairman in the absence of the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman. The meeting received a letter from the Gisborne Trades and Labour Council, asking that the committee should receive a delegate from the council. Committee’s Constitution Commenting on the letter, the chairman stated that since the committee Was not officially constituted, it should refer the letter to the Mayor. He pointed out further that the regulations under which the committee must work placed the authority under the district territorial body, in this case the. Borough Council. It was now timely for the Mayor to place the whole matter of the committee’s work before the council and secure a proper delegation of authority, so that there need be no possibility of anyone asking by what right the committee was operating. The chairman assured the meeting that it was very suitable that a delegate or delegates from theTrades and Labour Council should work with the committee, and he agreed with Mr. O. G. Thornton that the committee should forward to the Mayor, with the letter, a recommendation that the request be warmly approved. Mr. A. C. Cooke reported on behalf of the works sub-committee that he had been met by six representatives of the different trades, nominated by the Trades and Labour Council, and they had offered to co-operate in every way possible with the work of the committee. The committee approved the chairman’s suggestion and proceeded to the study of the consolidated report prepared by Colonel Gambrill and Mr. O. G. Thornton, district engineer. Design For Refugee Camp Mr. Cooke later raised the question of design and scope of any necessary refugee camp, and it was suggested by the chairman that this should be discussed between the works and refugee sub-committees. Mr. Cooke added that one course of action suggested was that architects should design suitable and simplified accommodation for a unit of 500 people, the design to be enlarged or reduced according to the needs of a situation. Dr. A. L. Singer reported on behalf of the medical and health sub-com-mittee to deal with problems arising out of any disaster which might disorganise the normal operations of the profession and of hospital staffs. The report envisaged chiefly the disruption following an earthquake disaster, and an interesting feature was its reference to the fact that adequate supplies of medical requirements were now available in the district, and that a blood transfusion service had been arranged. The report was received and adopted. Efficient Preparation Essential The chairman emphasised the necessity for the committee to get a thorough grasp of the detail of organisation, and to interest a sufficient number of citizens in the work for which the committee was formed. Unless there were adequate numbers of people conversant with the scheme, and prepared to put it into action, the preparations might be valueless. Moreover, it was necessary that some authority should be given to the committee, for already some keen members had encountered an offhand attitude upon the part of people who did not see the necessity of the work being done, and who questioned the authority for the committee’s activity. In the course of further discussion, Mr. A. S. Muir suggested that the only possible action, which might be taken by the enemy, affecting Gisborne, would be to visit the port to procure supplies. Damage would hardly be done unless there were resistance made to a landing-party. The chairman agreed that there would have to be some decision in the matter. However, he did not think the committee need do more than place a scheme of evacuation and maintenance of the citizens. The question of a signal to the public was one which the council should attend to. Consequences of Heavy Flooding Mr. F. Matthewson asked whether the committee would plan to deal with severe flooding and its consequence upon the people. The chairman thought that if floods came there would be J.imc for planning, whereas in the event of war activity or earthquake there would be little time to plan. The scheme must be drafted beforehand .and must be thoroughly understood by all concerned. Mr. O. G. Thornton considered that nothing was more likely than that very severe flooding would occur some time in Poverty Bay. The chairman: Well, that is something wc will have lo prepare for. It might be harder to deal with than enemy action or earthquake effects, In reply to Mr. L. Miles, the chairman stated that the supplies stib-'coni -

mittee would be -'responsible for clothing, rations, and fuel, mainly. Some discussion took place on the instructions which should be given to householders in regard to action in the event of enemy action against the town. It was agreed that the obvious course for safety was to stay in their own homes, since little damage could be done if people did not congregate in large numbers. The possibility v of people fleeing from their homes, however, would be best provided for by advising people to seek the hills and the shelter of trees. In regard to schools, it was recommended that the children should be kept in their classrooms. ' Forethought May Save Casualties Mr. L. Miles suggested that the real initial function, of the emergency committee was to provide against the worst effects of earthquakes. If arrangements on those lines were complete, the committee, should be able to deal with the possible effects of enemy action. The chairman commented that if people were advised as to what they should do in event of enemy action it would allay a good deal of concern roused by reports of enemy raiders being abroad. He declared that all people would be best advised to remain indoors if enemy action became imminent. He thought that the committee was bound to give some lead in the matter, as well as deal with earthquake effects. Referring to the accommodation of refugees and injured people, Mr. L. W. Anderson mentioned that 1600 people could be put under shelter at the Showgrounds and 500 at the Makaraka Domain. The latter site would presumably be used for hospital purposes. Inspector Edwards intimated that probably 150 men would be required for traffic control and patrolling work, in the capacity of special police. The chairman remarked that the Returned Soldiers’ Association could probably provide these men. Water Supply Problem Mr. Beaumont, assistant borough engineer, brought up the question of water supplies for the camps, and stated that the greatest difficulty was experienced in securing any reserve supply of chloride of lime and other chemicals suitable for purify ing water. This was due to the existing commandeer of chemicals for war purposes. In the absence of chemicals, the committee proposed to boil the water required for drinking. Mr. O. G. Thornton suggested that the obvious need was to construct a concrete cistern with a capacity of about 500,000 gallons, in one of many suitable gullies about the foothills, which could be reserved for emergency use. This water would require no purifying, Mr. Thornton reminded the committee. When the personnel of camp staffing was under discussion, Mrs. L. T. Burnard stated that the Poverty Bay Women’s Central Representative Committee had prepared lists of cooks and of other categories of women workers. The committee could nominate women to undertake almost any duties, including the supervision of children and of people overcome by nerves. It was recommended that in the event of earthquake disaster in daylight hours the children should he kept under the control of teachers until opportunity occurred for them to/■ rejoin their families safely. The sub-committee dealing with refugee camps was recommended lo study this question closely, with a view to providing a definite plan* of operations covering school children. The discussion closed with, a recommendation from the chairman that each sub-committee should try to envisage itself as being in operation in an emergency, and that 'all should endeavour to make every possible preparation against the day when their actii&l services would be required.