TO PROTECT DOMINION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1939, Page 7

TO PROTECT DOMINION

GOVERNMENT MEASURES

AGAINST AIR RAIDS AND GAS ATTACKS. NO NEED FOR ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS. ißy Telegraph—Press Association i WELLINGTON, This Day. Measures adopted by the Government to protect New Zealand against air raids and gas attacks were indicated by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in a statement, last evening. He said that full consideration had been given to every contingency and that the Government’s expert advisers were agreed that there was no need at present for this country to make elaborate precautions. However, the Government had made essential preparations, and as far as the wider problem of the general disorganisation caused by air raids or other attacks was concerned was not leaving things to chance. When the attention of the Prime Minister was drawn to recent activities in various parts of New Zealand with regard to air raid precautions generally and protection against gas attacks in particular, he stated that for some time past the Government had had this problem under consideration, and had obtained the best advice regarding the protective measures, if any. that should be taken in New Zealand. The conclusions to which the Government had come had been reached after careful consideration of existing and prospective conditions by naval, military and air advisers in this country and in Great Britain. FULL CONSIDERATION GIVEN. “We have not shut our eyes to possibilities,” said the Prime Minister, “rull consideration has been given to every contingency, and our,expert advisers are agreed that there is no need at nresent for this country to make elaborate preparations against air raids and gas attacks. There is no need, for instance, to provide gas masks or air-raid shelters for the general pooulation.

“Much publicity has been given to the stens taken in the United Kingdom to meet the threat of danger from the air, and New Zealanders naturally have been much influenced by this, but. while we all appreciate the thoroughness of British safeguards, it is essential for New Zealand to see the position in true perspective. “Expert advisers state that it cannot be emphasised too strongly that the degree of risk from aerial attacks m Great Britain is very many times "renter than it is in New Zealand. The Old Country is within easy flying range of several first-class air Powers ■mrl moreover, has many concentratralions of populations in prominent centres, all of the highest order. New '’’"aland eniovs isolation. She is many thousands of .miles distant from any fi’-st-class air power, and her population is of much lower density, even in the most populous centres. ESSENTIAL PREPARATIONS. “The geographical advantages of New Zealand, however, do not justify a policy of complete indifference. The Government has therefore made essential preparations, and in the development of these is already giving training in certain measures of anti-gas defence. The personnel to whom such training is being given are the police, health authorities, fire brigades, traffic inspectors and first-air institutions. This instruction is under the control of Army Headquarters, in co-operation with the Department of Internal Affairs. “As far as the wider problem of the general disorganisation caused by air raids or other attacks is concerned, (he Government is not leaving things to chance. Thev are taking steps now to advise local bodies and others concerning safeguards. The activities of all organisations will be co-ordinated co that in the event of a national emer"“nev, though remote, the whole country will b" linked up in an efficient plan of safeguards and defence. ALARMIST STATEMENTS. “I must, therefore, deprecate the publication of alarmist statements, or the preparation of schemes for extensive provision of air-raid shelters or for evacuation o£ the population of 'he larger cities. 1 can only repeat that the Government is satisfied that c uch measures are not at present necessary. . 1 “The Government >s not unmmatul of its duties. In collaboration with the Motherland and the other Dominions, we have examined the whole problem of aerial raids and eas attacks, and we ore convinced that 'he protective measures taken are adequate.”