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(c) The Medical Unit attends to the collection and transport of casualties and to the provision of medical services at first-aid posts and dressing-stations : (d) The Supply Unit acquires and distributes food, clothing, equipment, or supplies, and provides any technical or other requirements of other units : (e) The Law and Order Unit, under the control of the senior officer of police in the locality, assists the Police Force in the maintenance of law and order and the control of traffic : (/) The Communications Unit assists the Post and Telegraph Department to maintain communications, and provides despatch riders, runners, and radio operators : (g) The Information Unit collects facts, distributes news to the public, and keeps a record of events : (.h) The Works Unit maintains public services, such as water-supply, drainage, sanitation, electricity, gas, roads, and streets. It controls the construction of shelters and supplies demolition or rescue squads, gas decontamination squads. Technical committees for the denial of resources may also be attached to the works unit: (i) The Transport Unit provides drivers, mechanics, and others to help transport facilities : (j) The Evacuation Unit arranges to shift people from danger zones and to organize their billeting in safer areas : (k) The Accommodation Unit supplies food and temporary shelter for those who are rendered homeless or are otherwise in need of assistance. This unit also supplies refreshments for workers in other units : (I) The Fire Unit assists the ordinary fire-brigade services : (m) The Lighting Unit helps to enforce the lighting restrictions. This unit is often combined with the Wardens Unit: (II) The Harbour Unit protects wharves and other installations at our ports and assists in evacuation arrangements where necessary. Trials and Exercises - Each of the principal Emergency Services has held trials to test its efficiency and to educate the public as to how to act in an emergency. Though in the early stages these naturally showed up weaknesses, efforts have been made to eliminate these, and each successive trial means fewer errors and a better-prepared emergency service and civilian population. Propagation of Pamphlets and Literature. —Two householder circular-posters have been issued throughout the Dominion dealing with general emergency matters, but particularly relating to incendiary bombs and the fires they cause. In addition, three handbooks have been published and issued to E.P.S. personnel. These cover — (1) Incendiary Bombs and Fire Precautions : (2) War Gases : (3) Instructions to Wardens. This Department also issues to emergency services a monthly Civil Defence Bulletin which contains matters of general interest and instruction to all E.P.S. personnel, and, of course, keeps in touch with local Central Committees by the issue of frequent Circular Instructions. Films have also been purchased by the Department and have been circulated throughout the country, and all standard specifications relating to items useful to the Services have been referred for the information of Central Committees. The Department has also been in close touch with all overseas sources of information on civil defence matters generally and has exchanged papers with nearly all similar services throughout the Empire and in America. A library is maintained at Headquarters of all civil defence and other relevant literature received from overseas. Finance. —In January, 1942, it was announced that the Government was prepared to subsidize to the extent of 66| per cent, expenditure by local authorities on emergency projects, both capital and administrative, and to date a sum approximating £185,000 has been paid by the Government in this connection, in addition to the £700,000 subsidy on shelter-construction referred to earlier. This subsidy has enabled local authorities to go more boldly forward with their plans for civil defence, and, though all major projects were first submitted to the Department for approval, a reasonably free hand was allowed to local bodies to formulate suitable defence measures in accordance with the general policy laid down by Government from time to time. Equipment. —In addition to the subsidies which are paid to local authorities, the Government has provided large quantities of equipment free of cost, and has been instrumental in controlling the price of locally-manufactured equipment and in placing bulk orders for material secured from overseas. Among this equipment are — Over 300 fire-fighting pumps (various kinds) 250,000 civilian respirators 31,000 bucket and stirrup pumps 6,000 steel helmets 3,000,000 ft. of hose 270,000 armlets 850 sets of decontamination equipment 100 air-raid sirens. 6,500 service respirators Regional and District Control of Civil Defence Services. —With the object of achieving the fullest possible co-ordination between the Civil Defence services and the armed forces, and to make provision for the decentralization of control for operational purposes, Government adopted a system of regional control. The Dominion was divided into three regions, to conform with the existing military districts, and a Regional Commissioner was appointed for each district. These Commissioners were selected from men with considerable military background, and were appointed on a full-time basis to the rank of Colonel as the civil defence representative at each of the three Combined Headquarters which formed their Regional Headquarters. The Regional Commissioners are responsible for co-ordi-nation and general effectiveness of all E.P. Services- within their respective territories, and their position at Combined Operational Headquarters ensures the necessary co-ordination with the armed services.

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