IN TIMES OF CRISIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 170, 5 August 1937, Page 3

IN TIMES OF CRISIS

-I'ress AasociH' ion. !

National _ Security Organisation C0PING WITH EMERGENCIES

(By felegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The existence of an Organisation of National Security, established by the Government to deal with any national crisis or emergency that may arise, was announccd by the. I'rime Minister (the Bt. Hon. M. j. Savage) to-day. The organisation, which represents a comprehensive range of interests, is equivalent in principle .to the' Committee 'oi Imperial Defence at Home.. Mr. Savage said that the organisation, in addition to co-ordinating ail breaches of defence, was conccrncd with coping with situations that may arise through an epidemic, or an earthquake disaster, or similar unforeseen events requiring instant emergency measures. "There was a time, when we had an earthquake, when we had to start and do things quickly and get soino sort of organisation .together to me'et tho position," he continued. " We have arrived at a time when these things have to be antieipated, and when we have t.o be prepared for them. "For instance, if it did corrie to a declaration of war, everyone would have some idea of what would happon to oux export trade. It would niean the re-organisation of our internal economy, and we have to have a machine ready for action to accomplish this. Apart "from any consideratiOns of war, we have our economic life to maintain. "The objective of this organisation is to be in d position to deal with any form of crisis — epidemics, earthquakes, or anything else. We don't want to have to run round and get an organisation together when we are in the middle of a crisis/'