AIR-RAID SHELTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24970, 17 July 1942, Page 2

AIR-RAID SHELTERS

ELABORATE PROVISION MADE TRIAL TO BE HELD SHORTLY An assurance that arrangements for the provision of air-raid shelters in Dunedin were well in band was given vesterday by the Mayor, Mr A. H. Allen. He stated that the plans on which the civic authorities had been working for some time were nearing completion, and information which would later be available to the public would indicate how elaborate had been the preparations made for the safety of citizens. The plans were based on the distribution of the population both during the day and at night, and shelter accommodation was being arranged accordingly. The Mayor stated that the shelter accommodation in business premises and in public areas so far completed represented 11.485 persons; accommodation which was 75 per cent, completed represented 278 persons; 50 per cent, completed, 2590 persons, and 25 per cent, completed, 4995 persons. Other plans approved or awaiting approval represented accommodation for an additional 2250 persons. Added to this were the new pipe shelters, of which a number had already been installed in the Cargill corner area and certain other parts of the city, while further shelters of this nature were in course of construction. These pipe shelters would accommo s date some 10,600 persons, making a grand total of over 30,000 people who would eventually be provided for.

The Mayor added that dispersal and shelter trials in ' connection with the E.P.S. would be held at an early date.