BECOMING PREPARED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21226, 24 September 1940, Page 8

BECOMING PREPARED

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS INSTRUCTION IN HAMILTON EXPERT’S VISIT NEXT WEEK London’s calm endurance of the most terrific bombardment of any city in the history of man has been made possible because the public had been well organised and prepared for the onslaught. Great attention was paid in England to air raid precautions prior to the war and during the unexpected interval of almost a year which elapsed before the Nazi air blitzkrieg commenced. 1 Although the immediate danger to New Zealand as a target for air at- ! tacks may not seem great, citizens throughout the country, including Hamilton, are preparing for any possible emergency and valuable instruction is being given in air raid precautions. It is hoped that a greater number of people will be able to take instruction in at least the elementary features of air raid drill so that a foundation will be laid for the provision of almost complete national preparedness should it ever be required. Great interest has been shown in Auckland by the business community, members of the National Military Reserve, the Home Guard, the New Zealand Red Cross Society and others. After completing the course conducted in Auckland by the Red Cross Society, several trainees were appointed wardens and team wardens under the Municipal Emergency Precautions Scheme and it is considered that properly qualified people will be able to render similar service in the Waikato. The Waikato Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society conducts an annual instructional course in air raid precautions and this year it has engaged Mr G. T. Paterson, author of the New Zealand test book on air raid precautions and chemical warfare, to lecture in Hamilton. Mr Paterson recently took several courses dealing with air raid precautions when in England. He participated in the lecturers and instructors’ courses at Falfield, where he received a Home Office certificate as a lecturer and instructor. It has been found necessary to complete the course in Hamilton in one day and it is anticipated that about 200 people from all Waikato districts as far south as Taumarunui, will participate in the course in Hamilton on October 5 at the Red Cross Depot in Ward Street. The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro, will open the course. The society has full equipment for demonstration purposes in its possession.