WAIKATO SCHEME

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 8

WAIKATO SCHEME

EMERGENCY PRECAUTIONS COMMENDED BY MINISTER WAR SERVICE FOR EVERYONE Describing it as the best he had seen in the Dominion, the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, congratulated the Waikato upon its emergency precautions scheme when speaking at the meeting in Hamilton last night at which he addressed local body representatives. The scheme has been adopted by the Hamilton Borough Council and the Waikato, Waipa, Raglan and Otorohanga County Councils. The plan is based on quite different principles from those of the original precautions, reads a statement issued today by the organisers. The extent to which it has been accepted by the public may be gauged from the enthusiastic meetings which have been held throughout the Waikato during the past few months. At all of these meetings, which have been exceptionally large, the people have been unanimous in their acceptance of the scheme. Work For Non-combatants It is well-known that when a country is attacked a large number of civilians is to maintain the supplies to the fighting men. Everyone, therefore, cannot be a member of the fighting forces. New Zealand has a territorial army for defence, and in the hour of danger the Home Guard would become, by Order-in-Council, an additional fighting force. There must still remain a large number of men, women and children, who for varying reasons cannot join the Home Guard or the Women's War Service Auxiliary. It is with the object of enabling these civilians to assist in the war effort that the Waikato emergency precautions scheme has been designed. It is considered that the only method of preventing panic and rumour is to organise the community so that every person knows what is expected of him in an hour of danger. Voluntary Membership Membership of the scheme is voluntary. In it everyone selects the task for which he considers he is best fitted, and each member elects his own leader whom he promises to obey in a time of any emergency such as war, earthquake, or flood, where organised volunteer effort is considered to be the only adequate way of serving the public. In most of the country districts in the Waikato, 90 per cent of the people have already become associated with the scheme. Others are invited to do so and every person should become acquainted with the name of the leader of his district. Widespread interest is being taken in the plan, inquiries having come from as far away as the South Island. There are indications that other local bodies will shortly adopt it. The secretary of the scheme is Mr W. L. Ranstead, of Hamilton.