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MOCK EVACUATIONS
PLANNED
Newcastle Theatres
AIR RAID PRECAUTION
Newcaselle theatre-goers will shortly be
asked to ulderfo mock air raid training,
as part of the National Emergency bcneme
After the night's entertainment they will
he asked to leave the theatres by the
nearest exits, calmly, but as expeditious.
ly as possible. Emergency lighting will
be used, as would be necessary if the
electricity supply lfailed.
"It should he quite clearly underetood,"
said the Chief Varden (Lieutenant-Col.
onel Anderson), "that this precaution has
no special signlficance. I would not like
people to imagine it means that New.
rmitle is going to be attacked any day,
and that the authorites have 'got the
wind up.'
"The fact' is that should Newcastle ever
he attlcked-and no one can be optimistic
enough to nay that is impossible-It might
be e6sentlal to have the picture shows
cleared rapidly. In fiome cireumstanes,
an the othelr hInnd, it might he safer for
audiences to remain in theni tihau go into
tile streets. Whatever colri e is adopted
it is well that the lpublic should have had
some experience in the kind of manss discip
line that is necessnary to meet such a
position.
"In Australia Vwe are in a happy posi
lion in which no danger threatens imme
diately. We are.therefore able to adopt
training measulres, over a reasonably long
period, tllat wvere imlpossible in London.
We would be foolish not to take every
tralining opportllunity open to us, and this
is simply one of them. if we never have
to evacuate a theatre in a hurry, so mnilch
the better. It will mean tlhat we can
all keep going to them at any rate. for
we will know whait to do if we ever hIave
to."
The Chief Warden discussed the pro
posal with managers of Newcastle picture
theatres at a conference at N.1ES. headtl.
quarters. All theatres were represented.
The lay-out of each wase discussed. An
important point emphasnised at the con
ference was that. eachi theatre. has emer
gency exile, designed originally In ease
of lire, whioh are not ordiriarlly used
by the public, and therefore unfamiliar to
most people. A. prson shown out through
one, unexiepectedly, would possibly have
difficulty in locating Iles bearings on
reaching the laneways on which they
open. It was arrecd that the wisest
cotrse would- be to have the public uso
these, from time to time, under some
thlng at least approaching war conditions.
Several practice evacuations, it was felt,
woiuld eliminate the danger of panic
should the real thing ever matorlahlise.
Rush of Volunteers
Approximately 200 volubteors--100 men
rnod 100 wome--reported for duty at
N.E.S. headquarters at the City Hall yes.
terday. At times people in queues 10
and 15 deep were waiting to aubmit their
names and Indicate in what capacity they
were willing to help. Men are reo
quired as wardens, nod for first-aid, gea,
and other squads, and women also for
first-aid, and as general assistants at
aid posts, in hospitals, and other points,
Despite the rush of reeruits, there was
n complete lack of excitement in the doe
meanour of the NE".S. permanent staff.
Their atlitudoe is: "We don't say Aus
tralia will be attacked-wo oqly want to
bae ready in case it is, and then it won't
.matter so .much."
Probably the most absorlbed and sincere
class of "students" that hea ever been
seen in Newcastlo bean' at the Wood
street Tenhnicil Coll?o yehterdny. morn.
ing. Conducted by ~r.i Keith Smith
railwhvay mnlhlce' Inetructor, on behalf
of the 'Ntionnll Energealoy Serc'vles,' II
will give selected mn. frlom the indus.
tries four anyn 'concentrated training ln
gn prctmtionesn so, tlhat they, `in turn.
oran ilnpnrt th lg tna led#d' t"'tlhelrfell1w
",nlon'een.
WVith rubhbr poteOletvooclO thing, nd
as innasks for practical -edueation,: the
'lnes is to learn how. to reeognise.' ahd
'ope. with' vriolus forms of -poison gas
soed In wfarfare and .assist' other cvill
The 34 men in the clane are listenh?g' to
woer detail, antd nil are tenllna notes.
for future reference. If any. member failI
to pass the oneludina nexamination' It
ill not ihe throuah liek of. determiatlonl
'o mlas Iothine of the clear instructions
'lr mlth is iniparting,
Warden For Lake Shire'
Mr., D. N. Whitaon, of Ilnonellstroet,
Carriff, will be recommlended to tho
Minioter in chargeo of National Emer
geney Services (Dir. N. F. Bruxncr) as
Chlof Warden for. Lake Macquarie Shire.
The matter was brought under the
notice of the council at the meeting last
nilght by the President (Cr. T. L. Owen).
ThI President reported that Mr. Whiteon
was the only nuei with the necessary
nualification who had been recommcended.
Hia ago was 0,. He was qualified in
ambulance work and in air raid preeauo
tione, and was a member of the honorary
staff of Newcantle Ambulance.
The President said he had received
two nominations from the Returned Sal
diero' League, but both were without the
consent of tie idividuals.
On tie motion of Cro. J. Kerny and
D. J. larrrington. it was decided to
recommel nd iMr. Whitson.
The Preiildent said that if lthe recoom.
nmendation were accepted, the collnno
wrlld be expected to provide an office.
Replying to Cr. C. II. Wilson, the
Presidenlt raid the recommendation would
not, irncur tlhe council inll Iny exipense.
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