IN CASE OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 4

IN CASE OF WAR.

PLANS PREPARED.

IMMEDIATE ACTION.

EVACUATING CHILDREN.

(Special.— By Air Mall.)

LOXnOX, September 3.

Comprehensive pTans for the evacuation of millions of children, fiom great centres of population in the event of war ere embodied in the report of a Government I omn.ittee. The scheme could be put into operation immediately an pincr-ciuv arose.

tentative have already been muilu with tne London Passenger lian«|.ort Board and the main line railway com pa ni«. e to remove from the danger zones children and nnn-<«mlmt.int< nt the rat i- ~f tunny t limii.-,ui<l.s »m hour. rin» nminiittce. M-t up under the rhairniMiiMliiji of sir John Anderson t<. consider the e\neinitiori of the civil peculation in war time, lias proceeded <>ri the n«.*umprh>n that, in iiny future Kiiropean ♦•onllirt a formal dei-lnration of war would be unlikely. Lightning action would, therefore, be e^enlial.

Tlmw rxiu'imtcil would be. billeted niflinly in country di«trids, and one of the lir-t. nti-jw t.'. h<. tn k<ll will be to omipilp a rcj-i.Mer of farm hotter*, country hoii*tM hiul cottage* where Rcciiiiiiiiiiiliitinii could lie provided. Into the country with the children would g lt a complete I'ducntioiml statf and medical service. No Camps. Whore Kclinul amumiiodiition proved inn<lc(|iintf it is piolialilf tli.U a twoshift teaching »y»tcm would be inntittitrd as in the (Jreiit War.

ivliicitidii.il orynniintiori« will roopor.ite with Ideal authorities in thp working «'tit of tlio .acheiue, which will be run on democratic lines and apply ti> all elas«es.

There will be no large-scale provision •of school camps, a* those are regarded, with some exceptions, as impracticable and undesirable. Tin- prnvi-ion of rami*, either under caiivae nr in wooden huts, might easily provide targets for an eneniv.

The cotntnittee ha* come to the eondus ion that there would lie a considerable amount of voluntary evacuation. A numher of school* have already made arrangements with parent* to remove their scholars to sanctuaries in the country. Plan** will aleo be worked out for the. protection of worker* who have to remain in the dnnger zone.

The provision of bomb-proof shelters does not properly come within the committee's term* of reference, but there will certainly be increased underground facilities for those who have to remain at work in the- centre.

Emergency legislation will be necessary to put lome parts of the scheme into operation, and thi* will be introduced immediately Parliament reassembles and rushed on to the Statute Book at once.