GAS MASKS

Southland Times, Issue 23624, 27 September 1938, Page 9

GAS MASKS

To The Editor Sir,—l notice in this morning’s paper the following paragraph, “Precautionary measures taken by local authorities all over London have surprised the populace.” It is no surprise to us in New Zealand, especially those soldiers who experienced the effects of the last war, and the cry has been universal, for months past. Why have we taken no precautionary methods against any gas attack?

The omission has been the more pronounced because of the marked silence from official quarters. At a parade held recently it leaked out from one'of the troops of the Southland Regiment that the supply of masks for the half million odd population of the South Island numbers the remarkable sum of While we must commend the authorities for these extreme precautionary measures we really must be pardoned’ for saying that it is not enough. Can we not make these masks in New Zealand ourselves, as according to the article in the paper there is an apparent scarcity of this equipment in England. Hence export to this Dominion seems a remote possibility. The matter is a vital one to the country, more so now than ever. Like many other citizens, I feel that the Government (whichever it may be) pacifist or otherwise, will realize its responsibility in having at least some protection for young and innocent children. —Yours, etc., LOYALTY. September 26. 1938.