EMERGENCY PLANS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 7

EMERGENCY PLANS

BRITAIN ESTABLISHING CAMPS PART OF EVACUATION SCHEME [ British Official Wireless J RUGBY, Feb. 13. In conjunction with air-raid precautions, the Lord Privy Seal, Sir John Anderson, announced to-day that the approval of Parliament would be sought for an immediate start on a programme costing £1,000,000 for the provision of 50 holiday camps, designed to accommodate 350 persons in peace time, and 3500 in war time, when they would be used to supplement billeting under the present evacuation schemes. Steel Air-raid Shelters. The results were also made public to-day of tests carried out at experimental ranges at Shoeburyness, which showed that steel air-raid shelters, the free distribution of which to families in the lower-income groups is expected to start at the end of the month, will, if sunk in the ground and covered with earth, afford protection to occupants from high explosive bombs falling within 30 feet.

In to-day's experiments a 5001 b. medium-case high explosive bomb was electrically detonated. Though the detonation tore a huge crater in the earth and practically demolished, a substantially-built structure representing a row of two-storey houses, the shelters remained intact, though the brickwork from blown-up buildings crashed down upon them. Civil Air Guard. The continued enthusiastic response to the appeal for volunteers for the Civil Air Guard has resulted in all vacancies being filled for a considerable time and entry, therefore, has been closed. The King visited a factory on the outskirts of London, in Surrey, engaged in the manufacture of aircraft armaments. He spent more than an hour on a tour of inspection and was particularly impressed with the powered gun turret, one of which he saw fitted to : army tank.

It is understood that the Opposition is asking the Government for a day in the House o* Commons for a discussion on the question of national defence as a whole before the Service Estimates are discussed individually, and also for a separate day for a discussion of the air raids precautions.