IDENTIFICATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1942, Page 6

IDENTIFICATION

Arrangements Being Made

"The suggestion has been made in some districts that children should be supplied with identification discs," said the Minister of Education (Mr. Mason) today. "A general Government arrangement is being made with regard to identification discs, and this will be announced shortly. In the meantime parents have been advised in some areas either to hang around their children's necks cardboard or other labels containing name and address or to sew tabs into the clothing at the back of the neck. A number of schools have already made arrangements for this, and it would be a wise precaution in all cases."

year to make provision for the safety of children, and said that the entry of Japan into the war had made it necessary that further steps should be taken regarding certain vulnerable areas. A procedure had been laid down by War Cabinet for the carrying out of the necessary work, and this procedure was working smoothly, with the result that construction work on shelters was already well in progress at many schools. "NO CHANCES TAKEN." "It is obvious that with the safety of so many children affetake no chances could be taken with the type of shelter provided and it necessarily took a little time to devise specific plans for school shelters that conformed to the shelter code laid down by the Government," Mr. Mason said. ''Alternative plans of shelters based on the code and varied to suit different local school conditions were prepared and were sent out to the education boards. In some districts the education boards, besides arranging for the building of shelters at the schools under their control; have also given technical assistance to the controlling authorities of postprimary and private schools in vulnerable areas. In all cases boards are willing to give such authorities access, to the suggested plans for shelters. "All controlling authorities whose schools lie in vulnerable areas were informed of the fact some time ago by the Education Department. It is .recognised that there might well be some potential danger at schools outside these areas, but obviously all schools cannot be provided for at once, and nothing should be allowed to interfere with the work being done in vulnerable areas. As soon as this is so far under way in any district that the extension of the work to other areas will not interfere with it, permission will be given for extending the scheme to schools in somewhat less dangerous zones." Mr. Mason also detailed the steps that have been taken to provide firefighting equipment at schools. One or two districts had asked for the provision of emergency food supplies, but he considered that if such supplies were necessary the parents, through the school committee, could take action. The Department and education boards, with depleted staffs, were .struggling to provide the major necessities for protection. TEACHERS' RESPONSIBILITY. "The organisation already mentioned under which the protection of school children committees arranged for head teachers to be wardens in the E.P.S. I should ensure the closest co-ordina- ! tion of effort, but in case there should still remain any undetected gap in the system in any area, I would again stress that it is the responsibility of ever head teacher to keep in closest touch with the local E.P.S. warden to make sure that, whatever the changing circumstances, the system of dispersal should be such that it cannot fail in any eventuality," the Minister said in conclusion. "The use of prepared shelters or of available natural shelter near the school is only intended to cover the time until dispersal to the homes can be most safely effected "It will be seen that the protection of the children of New Zealand from the effects of enemy action is a complicated and difficult task, demanding: the closest co-operation of Government Departments, controlling: authorities, school committees, E.P.S. organisation, and parents. The most urgent task for the Government is to provide those major works in vulnerable areas which demand much money, labour, and material, but it is no less important that committees and parents should throw themselves wholeheartedly into the work of providing the local organisation and the minor facilities, improvised if necessary, which lie within their powers."