PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 65, 18 March 1942, Page 4

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

SCHOOLS NEAR VULNERABLE AREAS Adequate protection of school children in the event of a sudden emergency was one of the questions discussed by the Wanganui Education Board at its monthly meeting yesterday. when it was decided that school committees near vulnerable areas may take certain steps under the board’s authority, to prepare against contingencies which would arise from a sudden raid. A list of secondary vulnerable areas in the neighbourhood of military objectives was before the board, and on the motion of Mr. J. F. Ft. Wallace (Marton) and Mr. E. F. Hemingway (chairman. Palea) it. was decided to press the Public Works Department to declare vulnerable areas within live miles of military objectives. Il was stated that the department was the body responsible for making such a declaration. which would entail provision of raid shelters by the department. Any building within a reasonable distance of a military objective would be regarded by Ihe enemy as a target said Mr. P. Munro (Taihape). The board was doing its best to have affected areas declared vulnerable, said Mr. Hemingway. In some places parents had not waited for the board Io take ac.ion, but had provided shelter trenches. At one school h o had visited the children were cleared from thp class rooms in 22 seconds, and were in their trenches 33 seconds lai or. The evacuation was carried out without, confusion, each child knowing the shelter to which it had been allocated. This showed. Mr. Hemingway added, what could be done by teachers the children and parents, working in co-operation with the E.P.S and school committees. Mr. I. W. Mudford (Foxton) asked whether the school committees which had undertaken the construction of shelter trenches knew the assistance that was available He was informed that this information had been given to each school committee in a lengthy circular.