SCHOOL CAMPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21280, 25 February 1939, Page 5

SCHOOL CAMPS

UNIT IN AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

British Official Wireless

(Received February 24, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, February 23.

The Government’s decision to construct fifty school camps to meet the needs of evacuation from threatened areas, in the event of war, was referred to in relation to the unemployment problem by the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) in a speech .at Blackburn, and during the debate in the House of Lords. Mr Chamberlain said: “The erection of these houses is to be entrusted to companies not working for profit, and we propose to ask these companies to co-operate with us by giving such work as they can to the unemployed, and especially young men.” Interest of Peers A desire for the development of a scheme to relieve the position, particularly of younger men, was expressed during a debate in the House of Lords Replying, Lord De La Warr (President of the Board of Education) urged the advisability of trying out the new idea, which had been given a good start on a manageable basis. The fact that the camps were to be in the hands of a permanent corporation indicated that the Govern, ment, if the camps were, successful in the first effort, did not mean to stop at present numbers. In any case, however, it could only be regarded as supplement to the accommodation being provided by billeting. Although final replies to inquiries in regard to billeting, had not come in, there was no question that the results were likely to be satisfactory. During evacuation, the camps could be useful as collecting depots, that would give a very useful margin of safety. In peacetime, their use as holiday camps was in no way ruled out in the scheme, but the first purpose to which it was intended to put them was for the use of schools and kindred services relating to boys’ and girls’ clubs. The camps would be financed entirely by the Exchequer, which would attempt to recover interest on 50 per cent of the money thus invested. The question of utilising the services of young unemployed men on the erection of camps was receiving serious consideration.