SHELTER FACILITIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1940, Page 7

SHELTER FACILITIES

IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED TUBE STATIONS OVERCROWDED [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, September 20. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security (Mr W. Mabane) announced in a broadcast speech that active steps were being taken to improve air raid shelter facilities in London, affecting amenities in the existing shelters where the occupants cap have satisfactory rest. ’The morning newspapers draw attention to the growing danger to London’s transport system of the increasing use of underground stations as shelters. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The congestion of stations is becoming serious. The news that the authorities are not forbidding the use of underground platforms as shelters has caused a large increase in the nightly migration. Passengers are forced to. struggle through lanes of recumbent forms. Hundreds take up their positions about 5 p.m. Some ' of the ‘refugees’ enter the stations at 8 p.m. each day.” 1 The “Daily Express” also appeals

for a reduced use of underground stations in order to enable workers to travel. This is regarded as a hundred times more important now that the siege is on. “The people’s safety will

mean nothing if the city’s work is

allowed to slow down or falter,” says the “Daily Express.” “One solution would be to disperse children and aged and infirm, and also everybody whose labour is not essential. The Government also faces the problem of shelters in the poorer districts. Many women and children spend the nights in roofed trenches which are uncomfortable and insanitary and were constructed merely for protection against short raids. It is feared that on Winter nights these shelters will cause cases of influenza and pneumonia. It is pathetic to see people queueing up at the West End shelters. Many are turned away. The surface shelters in the suburbs are frequently sparsely populated, most people beheving their homes are as good.” x

The “Daily Mail” says: “The demand for deep shelters must and will be met; but it becomes evident that for a number of reasons we are not going to have specially built deep shelters. Sir John Anderson is requisitioning idle basement cellars on a large scale, thereby providing shelter for many thousands. The congestion at the underground stations is liable to get out of hand. .It is hoped that the basement will provide room for all who are denied the use of the underground railways.” The Minister for Home Security

(Sir John Anderson) has issued 2,000,000 leaflets giving employers and workers guidance for working during air raids. In a preface, Mr Churchill says: “Our experience during the last few weeks has taught us that one of our greatest problems is to maintain production in. spite of raids. This plan has been evolved by the employers and the employed, so let us all work it together until victory comes.”

The plan provides for “spotters,” and improved protection for workers, permitting them to work until danger is imminent. Workers’ pensions, compensation, and insurance rights are specifically preserved. Six thousand persons have already .received personal injury allowances.

WORKERS’ TRANSPORT. RUGBY, September .20. The problem of transporting large numbers of workers from the suburbs to central London has been intensified by the indiscriminate German bombing. Not being directed at military objectives, bombs must occasionally fall in roadways and, thus affect tram and bus routes. An observer who toured the southern districts where ay great deal of senseless havoc of this Kind has been done was impressed by the speed with which the public transport services have adjusted themselves to the new routes and with the maintenance of services. During rush hour traffic, omnibus and tramway employees are unselfishly and cheerfully working at the highest pressure to get workers to or from their homes, and the success they have achieved is highly appreciated by the public, who are willing to put up with some inconvenience in the same spirit. At the same time railway staffs have been working magnificently to repair damage done to tracks and maintain services. In the words of a passenger: “I always get home though the railways are making up my mind for me as to the way I do it.”

Absence -from work is extremely rare and the German High Command must be bitterly disappointed that, come what may, London workers arrive at their jobs with persistent and stolid regularity.

POSTAL DISORGANISATION. LONDON, September 20. The Daily Telegraph says that telegrams are being sent by train, letters are left lying in railway stations for days, and telephone lines are completely out of action without any apparent reason. It states these are among the complaints being made at the post offices. Mr. Morrison (Minister of Supply) has announced: “A very heavy delay is inevitable.” Letters are now taking a week to reach their destinations. The average delay is about four days. The Post Offices throughout London, from September 23, will remain open after the raid warnings. The offices are being made blast and splinter proof.