IF RAIDERS COME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20649, 27 December 1941, Page 4

IF RAIDERS COME

SYDNEY’S BLACK-OUT SHELTERS URGED SYDNEY, Dec. 23. The Minister tor National Emergency Services, Mr. Heffron, said last night that the sounding of sirens after sundown in future should be taken as a warning that there was to be a complete black-out immediately. If possible the people would be warned during the day when a raid was expected at night, but in the event of a surprise raid householders and the occupiers of all buildings should regard the sounding of the sirens not only as a warning to take cover, but as an instruction to screen lights so that they were not visible outside. Street iights would be extinguished immediately a raid warning was received by N.E.S. headquarters. This instruction was to be observed while no complete black-out regulations were in force. The vast superiority of reinforced concrete over bricks for construction of public air raid shelters is urged by Sydney structural engineers. The president of the Association of Consulting Structural Engineers of New South Wales, Mr. F. P. Woolacott, said yesterday that the difference in cost between reinforced concrete and bricks was very small. Structural engineers, he considered, should have more representation on the N.E.S. technical committee. This committee comprises one engineer, two architects, and an executive officer, who is an architect.