GRAVE URGENCY OF TASK

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 3, 28 September 1944, Page 5

GRAVE URGENCY OF TASK

Rehousing Londoners (Received September 27, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 27. An ultimatum to workers in the building trade —“You must come and rebuild London. It is a military operation. The health of London in the coming winter rests in your hands”—was delivered by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Bevin, when he visited York on Tuesday. The building workers have issued a counter-ultimatum stating: “We will come if you will treat the job as a military operation and pledge us accommodation. Houses must be requisitioned for us. There are scores of big ones in London’s fashionable squares and outer suburbs. Get them for us, provide transport to mid from work, and we will come.” Mr. Bevin told the building workers that he sometimes thought the Londoners were misunderstood because they hud borne'the war strain so well. The Londoners had to be given warmth and shelter or they would bo endangered by influenza and other epidemics.

ENGLAND’S EVACUEES

Plans For Homecoming (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 26. Plans for the gradual return of evacuees whose homes are in the north and west of England, the Midlands, and Wales have been notified to the local authorities. The plans do not apply to evacuees whose homes are in Greater London and southern and eastern England. The country has been divided into “return home” areas and “stay away” areas. Official help will be given to evacuees who left under the Government scheme, and now have accommodation to go to in the “return home” areas. Miss Horsbrugh, Parliamentary Secretary of Health, in announcing the return, said that this was the first instalment of the great home-coming. About 40,000 mothers and children and 30,000 unaccompanied children were concerned.