H.—lla

Each, region is divided into districts, and District Controllers have been appointed for each, of the sixteen districts into which the Dominion has been divided. District Controllers are charged with the co-ordination and functioning of the individual E.P. Services within their districts. The system follows to some extent that which operates in England, and it has been found eminently suitable in New Zealand. Regional Commissioners are in constant touch with the Department and are frequently called together for discussion and for conference witli the Minister. Similarly, but at less frequent intervals, District Controllers meet either at their respective Regional Headquarters or jointly at Civil Defence Headquarters for conference with the Minister and the Department on major policy matters. There is no doubt that this system has led to a greater spirit of co-ordination and standardization of effort amongst E.P. Services. Government Emergency Precautions Services. —So that the operation in emergency of certain Government undertakings and public-utility services would not pass out of the control of those services, it was necessary to establish certain Government emergency services to co-ordinate their activities in an emergency with the local authority services. Among the emergency services so established are the following :— Hospitals E.P.S. National Road Transport E.P.S. Public Health E.P.S. Broadcasting E.P.S. Oil Industry E.P.S. Communications E.P.S. Railways E.P.S. Electricity Supply E.P.S. Each of these services co-operates with and receives the full co-operation of the local E.P.S. in its own district and liaison is maintained wherever this is necessary. Administrative Organization. —The diagram set out below shows in a condensed form how the different sections of the Emergency Precautions Services are related.

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