CIVIL DEFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 118, 22 May 1942, Page 3

CIVIL DEFENCE

! WHAT AUSTRALIA IS DOING '| Special Aus. Correspondent N.Z.P.A. Sydney, May 20. While Australia has modified the I “brown-out’’ restrictions, repeated • official warnings have been issued i that these modifications must not [ be permitted to give rise to an> false sense of security. The public have been instructed to make complete blackout arrangements and early tests will he held. Large signs pointing the direction to the nearest air-raid shelter are nu\. being placed in all Sydney streets New .surface shelters to accommodate 50 jieople are being built there. The design is based on English raid experience. The shelters are stated to give under the shock of bombs, instead of shattering under blast. A bed of 3in. of concrete is put down on lhe road surface, and a bituminous fell course is laid on this. The top is tied to lhe sides and the sides to the floor. This type of shelter, of which several hundreds are to be erected, is said to move with the blast. Air-raid and fire-fighting equipment, worth £75,000 is expected to arrive in Australia soon from America and England. This was announced by the Federal Minister of Home Security, Mr. H. P. Lazzarini. Australian manufacturers have already provided a considerable amount of such equip- . men I. ’ The cost of Sydney’s extensive raid warning alarm system, now being ‘ completed, is slated to be £50.000. Flic ’ alarms are of the motor siren and j loud-speaker type.