DRIFTING BACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 247, 18 October 1941, Page 7

DRIFTING BACK

LONDON CHILDREN' Official Anxiety For Safety In Winter Months United Press AMOciaUon.—Copyright. Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 17. The parents or 190,000 children have decided to let them risk spending the long winter nights in London air raid shelters. About 140,000 who returned to London are between five and 14 years of age, and about 50,000 are less than five years.

The Ministry of Health, which is very perturbed at their return, is beginning a campaign to make the parents change their minds. Officials point out that 500.000 children drifted back to London last year, many of whom unnecessarily lost their lives.

The authorities are also worried about juvenile health under shelter conditions in stuffy tube stations. Parents sav that they cannot feed and clothe the children as.well as pay their contribution to the Government for their upkeep in reception areas. It is pathetic to see healthy, happy children who have lost their war-worn look in evacuated areas, now playing in bombdamaged areas and saying that London will not be blitzed again.

Evacuation and other causes have more than halved London's birthrate. Births for the week ended October 4 numbered 15,345, compared with 37,190 for the corresponding week last year.