LONDON SHELTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1940, Page 5

LONDON SHELTERS

NOT ADEQUATE DEEPER ONES NECESSARY. (United Press Association Per Electric Telegraph Copyright). LONDON, September 17. The “Daily Mail” asks, in an editorial, whether the Government is doing all that it can for the civilians. It asks whether proper shelters are being provided, and whether complete aiifangements are being made to house those who have been rendered homeless by the raids. The “Daily Mail” continues: The outcome of the battle largely depends upon the®people’s courage and endurance. Sir Jolm Anderson (Minister'of Home Security) should immediately order the construction of deep bombproof shelters in every available open space. The “Daily Mail” remarks: The lessons of the war elsewhere have not been learnt. An outstanding fact is that the “Dispersal” policy, on which Sir John Anderson lias based his plans,' has failed. Public money is being, wasted more and more on surface shelters, thereby revealing a lack of foresight, because the surface shelters do not withstand continuous air attack.

QUESTION OF HEALTH. LONDON, September 17. “The Times” says: Lord Horder has been appointed .chairman of the Government Committee to investigate the effect on health of the present use of the public shelters. There is much overcrowding in them, because of their increasing use as dormitories. Sir John Anderson is investigating the possibility of using the tube railways as shelters, providing that the movement of trains is not hindered.

People are .beginning to resoit to .the underground railways as shelters after buying tickets. Steps are. being taken to discourage the movement of people from the communal and garden shelters to the larger’ shelters elsewhere, while the smaller shelters are being left almost empty. The Government is also giving attention to the problem of housing the large number of homeless people.

RIVER CRAFT REPLACE BUSES. RUGBY, September 16.

A Service of “water buses” on the Thames, which has been introduced in the past few days, to relieve the congestion in other transport services, through the temporary disorganisation of a few routes, as a result of enemy bombing, has proved highly popular. The service has been accelerated and the number of river craft engaged has been increased.