CIVIL DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1943, Page 3

CIVIL DEFENCE

CONSIDERABLE REDUCTION IN SERVICE DECIDED ON BY WAR CABINET ■RETENTION OF ESTABLISHMENTS IN PORTS. PRINCIPAL DETAILS OF NEW PLAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Far-reaching changes, involving a considerable reduction in service for Emergency Precautions Scheme and Emergency Fire Scheme personnel, have now been decided upon by the War Cabinet, the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr Wilson, announced today. The changes, he said, had been made possible by a continued improvement in the general situation in the Pacific and were based on a careful review, following on adjustments made in the Territorial Force and the Home Guard. It was still necessary to guard against possible danger from enemy action, and consequently, in the rearrangement decided upon, adequate provision was made to retain an efficient, civil defence machinery which could act promptly if needed. As it was considered that danger would apply more to the main centres and secondary ports than to inland centres, basic establishments were to be retained only in areas likely to be subjected to the kind of enemy action contemplated. It had been decided to rely on civic authorities entirely in other parts of the Dominion to maintain a sufficient organisation to meet any contingency such as earthquakes, flood, etc. A.s there was no guarantee that the general position would not deteriorate, Emergency Precautions services would have to be maintained under the general jurisdiction of the Minister of Civil Defence, so that they could function if an emergency arose. The War Cabinet had decided, the Minister said, that the training programme decided upon at the beginning of the year was not now necessary, and consequently the compulsory universal training plan for first line units would be abandoned. In addition, personnel required to serve in the basic establishments would be reduced in the 25 areas by varying percentages, averaging approximately 64 per cent. These frontline units, which would amount to between 12.000 and 13.000, would be required to attend one parade a month, in respect only of the work of their own particular unit. The remainder of the personnel would be transferred to the reserve. Districts were being asked. Mr Wilson said, to secure the required numbers from those willing to serve, but the principle of compulsory service had now been abandoned.

The Minister said the following centres were regarded as vulnerable areas: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. Dunedin, Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier. Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Petone, Blenheim, Nelson. Weslport, Greymouth, Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru, Invercargill and Bluff. The Government would pay subsidies in future only to those activities directly associated with the war emergency and prior approval of all new expenditure would have to be obtained.

Mr Wilson said material reductions would also be made in fire services and these would be announced shortly.