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scene themselves in a situation of any seriousness. At the scene it may be that scope for unprecedented government action will emerge for there is often a new twist to events in emergencies. Since C.D.0.s have only a small staff and are not executives the only role in emergencies in relation to other government organisations can be that of observer and, where this seems to be useful, co-ordinator.
96.
exist.
Two more positive fields for action
97.
For natural disasters there is a potential for assistance being provided from the public for those who suffer. Four emergency relief organisations of voluntary agencies and local members of auxiliary services have been formed with a view to mobilising voluntary assistance in tines of emergency. These organisations have earmarked potential temporary shelters for the homeless and are capable of producing manpower to provide assistance in small ways to supplement the operations of government organisations. The sort of need we foresee is the guarding of deserted homes and property, reassurance and distraction or entertainment of disaster victims, brewing tea, cleaning up shops and homes and so forth. This is not all strictly government business but there are always people willing to help if they can be organised, and our staff ought to be well placed to do this.
98.
This sort of thing is difficult to plan and whilst it is a natter to which we shall continue to give thought I am not in favour of too much cut-and-dried planning, a process which so often deals with the last crisis rather than the next
one.
/99. In
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