E.P.S. WORKERS RESIGN

Southland Times, Issue 24869, 8 October 1942, Page 4

E.P.S. WORKERS RESIGN

Tone Of Instructions Resented (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 7. The resignation of the committee which has organized the Christchurch Metropolitan E.P.S. was placed before the central committee today. The organizing committee in a letter to the Mayor, Mr E. H. Andrews, said it had come to the conclusion that it and the Regional Commissioner, Colonel W. T. Churchward, could not both . function at the same time if efficiency was required. The members of the organizing committee are: Messrs W. Machin (chairman), W. S. Mac Gibbon, M. E. Lyons and W. H. E. Flint. The central committee decided to call a meeting of all responsible members of section committees at which they will be asked whether they will choose four men to replace the organizing committee and be willing to accept the orders of the Regional Commissioner, or whether they will support the organizing committee in its contention that the Regional Commissioner should be recalled by the Government.” The Mayor said he received the resignation of the committee on August 27, but had.delayed accepting it in the hope that the difficulties could be solved. He had now received a second letter. He read both letters to the central committee. The first complained of interference by Government officials with the Metropolitan E.P.S. organization. The second said that until recently it had been possible to get imperfect and unworkable instructions modified, but lately there had been a Regional Commissioner placed in authority who had issued orders and instructions which, in the organizing committee’s opinion, were inimical to efficiency. The Minister of Civil Defence had promised that these questions should be discussed before alterations were made, and promises were made that the Director of National Service and other high national ..officers would discuss matters with the organizing committee before changes were imposed. “Instead we now receive orders and instructions in terms which are arrogant and offensive to men who, oyer long careers, have learned something of organization and which, addressed to our chief warden, are derogatory,” stated the letter.

The Mayor told the central committee that he had been “subjected to the same sort of thing.” His tribute to die value of the work of the organizing committee was supported by other speakers and a motion passed that a meeting be called.