Wardens Entitled To Compensation if Injured on Patrol

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1942, Page 2

Wardens Entitled To Compensation if Injured on Patrol

Reporting for duty at post not a requirement.«fc Compensation for Emergency Precautions Service wardens is discuss'ed in a letter from the Director of National Service, Mr. J. S, Hunter, as a result of an inquiry from New Plymouth. ( Clarification was sought by the executive committee and controllers on the point whether wardens when setting out on their ordinary rounds of inspection needed to report when they went on duty or whether the fact that they were on duty when injured would qualify them for compensation. The question arose from the following statement by Mr. Hunter: — "I can now definitely advise that an E.P.S. member comes within the scope of the pension provisions of part ] of the Finance Act (No. 4) 1940, onty after he has reported for duty at his post or at an authorised assembly point. The cover ceases as soon as the member goes off duty."

In asking Mr. Hunter for a more detailed explanation of the position Mr. P E. Stainton, district controller, pointed out that at present wardens patrolled their areas from time to time to see thal lighting restrictions were complied with. They had no set hours but went out from th.eir homes at such times at they deemed advisable. At those times there would be no one on duty to whom they could report when going off duty. In a letter received by Mr. Stainton . yesterday Mr. Hunter advises that at any time when the warden is actually patrolling his allotted area for E.P.S. purposes in accordance with specific or general instructions he would be deemed to be performing E.P.S. duty. As long as he is acting within the scope of general instructions he would accordingly be within the compensation provisions of part 1 of the Finance Act. "The Government is giving further consideration to the whole question of compensation after the sounding of an emergency alarm,'* the director added.