MORE GAS MASKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 222, 19 September 1936, Page 14

MORE GAS MASKS

| AUSTRALIAN PRECAUTIONS SYDNEY, Aug. 19. I The Defence Department will spend 'more this year on gas masks for the use of civilians in the event of aerial attack. To build up an adequate supply, manufacture of masks will be commenced in Australia, probably next year. Those which the department will purchase will not be issued to civilians, but they will be obtained in sufficient numbers to meet an emergency in any capital city. With a view to placing a large order, the Federal Government recently communicated with a Sydney firm which represents British manufacturers. The London principals of the firm are sending to Australia patterns of the most modern types of masks. “Remote Chance” The Minister for Defence, Sir Arch- i dale Parkhill, stating yesterday that | the Defence Department would increase its purchases, added:—"Military authorities are agreed that the possibility of invasion of, or an aerial attack on Australia, is extrcmly remote. There is absolutely no need for the public to be perturbed.” A small skilled organisation would be built up in every capital city so that a nucleus of experts to meet emergency conditions would always exist, he said. In Sydney, in recent months, steady progress has been made by organisations entrusted with the task of planning to meet conditions that would exist in the very unlikely possibility of the city being bombed from the air. Gas Shelters The question of providing shelters for use by civilians such as exist in London has been discussed by the Government Committee, consisting of representatives of the Defence Department, the Chief Secretary’s Department, the police, and the fire brigade. Perturbation has been expressed at the small number of masks that are available for training purposes. The St. John Ambulance Brigade in Sydeny has been giving lectures in methods of gas attack and gas protection for some time, but has no masks for pratical purposes. Instruction has been given to its 200 members and the brigade is planning a campaign of education for the coming year.