SHELTERS BUILT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 14

SHELTERS BUILT.

TWO SYDNEY WOMEN.

PROTECTION FOR HOMES. In the past fortnight two Sydney women have established air raid shelters at their own homes. One has already I been inspected and praised by the Lord Mayor, states the Sydney "Sun and Guardian." Several orders have also been given for the construction of Anderson type shelters in the grounds of private, homes. Mrs. Florence Taylor has reinforeed a strong room in her building with fire-resisting Australian ironbark girders. The walls of the strong room are 2ft 6in thick, and the ironbark around walls and ceiling is at least 18in through. "I had to wait two months to get the timber," said Mrs. Taylor. "That is why I think people should get busy now and order supplies." Under her home at Double Bay, Mr?. E. M. Irvine has started to sandbag four cellar rooms, which she will offer as a first aid post and dressing station. There is a double thickness of concrete walls there, and two of the rooms are under the earth's surface, because a terrace rises steeply along the side of the house. "I think the psychological effect of knowing there is a shelter handy is very helpful," said Mrs. Irvine. "I for one cannot believe that bombs give you six minutes' warning. "If Sydney were shelled or bombed I should think most of the damage would be from splinters. I could not see my cellar lying idle when there are four good rooms in it."

Mrs. Florence Taylor's shelter will accommodate about 30 people. "We should all be conscious of the need of protecting ourselves," Mrs. Taylor added. "In this building we have all studied first aid and A.R.P. since 1939."