H.—22b.

The foregoing paragraphs indicate the various Committees suggested in eacli case. Each section makes provision for a Controller to be appointed and for a Committee to assist him to carry out the task involved. In many cases, of course, it will be possible for the activities of two or more Committees to be merged into one. This is dependent on local circumstances. In all cases the draft scheme in each section sets out all the material information required by the Committee, and. suggestions along the following lines:— (a) An outline of the task of the Committee: (b) A list of suggested representatives or persons,on each Committee: (c) The preparatory work required to be done: (d) The duties to be undertaken in an emergency: (e) How the work of the Committee should be co-ordinated with that of other Committees provided for in the scheme: (/) Other relevant information for individual Committees. Chart. To show the local authorities how the various Committees link up with one another, a chart has been printed and placed at the beginning of the guide scheme setting out a list of the suggested Committees, and showing their co-ordination. Central Committee. The controlling authority in a stricken locality, which will have primary charge of all the arrangements, is known as the Central Committee. The suggestions in'this respect are that the Committee shall comprise the members of the territorial local authority of the district or, if there is more than one such authority, representatives of them all. In certain cases, representatives of appropriate ad hoc local authorities should be represented. In addition, it has been suggested- that the member or members of Parliament for the district should be co-opted on the Central Committee to act in an advisory or consultative capacity. This action will, among other things, ensure an effective liaison between the Government and the local authority. Prom the Central Committee a Central Executive of not more than three members should be appointed, the Executive to have power to give emergency decisions and take such other emergency or executive action as may from time to time be required. Schemes for Rural Localities. Prom the foregoing explanation of the general scheme it will be apparent that it has been framed from, the basis of providing a suitable organization for the cities and towns. It will also be apparent that such an organization would be too elaborate for many of the counties, which, in the main, would have only a number of villages and sparsely populated areas to look after. To meet this position, a summarized version of the scheme has been prepared for use in rural localities and sent to County Councils. It is not necessary in a statement such as this to explain in detail what is provided for in this summarized version. It is sufficient to say that it contains the essential elements of the general scheme, but is prepared in such a way that it is readily adaptable to the circumstances of the rural localities where the same extent of Committees and the same degree of work in an emergency would not be called for. Here, again, it is pleasing to be able to record that County Councils are responding well in the matter of establishing suitable organizations, based on the modified requirements, in rural localities affected. Anti-gas Training. An essential part of emergency precautions work is the dissemination of information to civilians regarding precautionary and remedial measures against gas attacks from the air. Fortunately, New Zealand is not immediately subject to this likelihood, but, nevertheless, it is desirable to have a sufficiently trained personnel to give further instruction should the necessity arise. Accordingly, classes were formed to receive instruction in anti-gas training. These classes were conducted under the auspices of the Army Department and were confined to training in the treatment of gas casualties and the work of decontamination. The personnel of such classes were drawn from the employees of local authorities and organizations engaged in first-aid work, together with officers of State Departments such as the Police and Army Departments. It was considered desirable that the training should commence in the four main centres, and accordingly classes were instituted within the urban areas of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The largest class which one instructor can handle efficiently is twenty. The classes wore accordingly limited to this number, allotted in approximately the following proportions :— Six Police officers. Six municipal staff (for decontamination and repair duties). Pour first-aid officers. Pour fire-brigadesmen.

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