CIVIL DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1943, Page 5

CIVIL DEFENCE

NEW POLICY ANNOUNCED MOVE TO FIX PERSONNEL. UNIT ESTABLISHMENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 27. Details of a neW policy of civil defence were announced today by Mr Wilson (Minister of National Service), who said action would be taken at an early date by regional commissioners to give effect to proposals. The Minister said each E.P.S. organisation would be required to fix a unit establishment. In respect to all units, such establishment to be based on the maximum number deemed to be required to give sufficient coverage in light of the present situation. The selection of personnel for unit establishments would be made after due consideration of their liability for military service in the future, in order to ensure that the establishment once fixed would remain as static as possible. The distribution of the establishment figures, said Mr Wilson, would be approximately: Wardens, 20 per cent; law and order, 10; communications, 10; medical, 25; works, 20. The establishments had been determined, taking into account , vulnerability and also possible liability to earthquakes. The establishments in all other districts would eventually be established on the same basis. An entirely 'new feature would be the constitution, at least in the four main centres and secondary ports, of mobile squads.