AS GUIDE ONLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 165, 13 July 1940, Page 6

AS GUIDE ONLY.

AIR RAID SHELTERS.

SYDNEY DOMAIN ACTIVITY.

"NO REASON FOR PANIC."

iHjiPi-lill—lty Air Mail.) SYDNEY. July 10. City Council workmen began digging air raid tdieltcr trenches and erecting ••belters in tho Domain on Monday morning. They were intended, however, only to wrvo u« ii guide to metropolitan municipal .-ouncilt* of the typo of proled ion t hut. Mould be needed in the c\cnt of an eniergeiiry. The Minister : i> charge of National Kmcrgeney Services, in which AIM', is included (Mr. Hruxner), stated this week that four types of shelter** would lie provided—trenches, pill-boxen, cliff and footpath aprons and shelter* inni<lc business premises, fc\Kit.path aprons will lie. provided outside buildings where I h<\ fear of collapse of the building is not. great and will protect people in the streets against splinter* or the effect of concussion. Cliff aprons will be provided at the edge of rocky areas, where a. large flouting population might be present if an air raid occurred. Mr. Bruxiicr made it clear that the provision of adequate shelter in city buildings wim the responsibility of the owners or authorities concerned, and appealed to every property owner to make the necessary survey immediately. He said it was not expected that people in office* would -have to seek shelter in the streets, parks or underground railways which would all be required for civilians who happened to be in the vicinity at the time. Additional entrances will bo provided to the underground railway from Hyde Park and Kli/abeth Street, on the east side, and from certain points not yet decided on the west side. Surveys of schools and hospital* have been undertaken and a survey of general Government buildings is iii progress to determine what strengthening of walls and floors may bo necessary. , As to private home precautions, Mr. llruxner said people would be obliged to make their own urrangements. The digging of trenches in their gardens or yards, or the provision of simple pillboxes, should meet all requirements. Ho added that there was no reason for panic and no need yet to start making backyard trendies. The majority of Sydney's population, who live in flats, will of course be provided for under the plan of precautions which the owners of such buildings will be obliged to provide. Arrangements for the hospital accommodation of possible casualties in the event of an air raid on "Sydney have Men completed, and could be put into operation in 24 hours. The plan agreed upon involves removing from the public hospitals to temporary accommodation

every case that could be safely transferred to make beds available for casualties. Patients so moved would be fared for in temporary buildings near tho hospitals (all of which have been inspected and approved) by private practitioners who have volunteered for this service and by V.A.D. workers and voluntary trained nurses. The hospital staffs would remain at the hospitals to care for the casualties. It has been estimated that in this way room could be made in hospitals for the maximum number of casualties likely to result from any attack tiiat could be launched against Svdnev.