SCHOOL SHELTERS

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21664, 26 February 1942, Page 4

SCHOOL SHELTERS

VULNERABLE AREAS A.R.P. EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED OTHER DISTRICTS LATER ON (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday In a statement today on measures being taken for the protection of school children, the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R Mason, said that over a month ago the War Cabinet approved of the Government’s bearing the full cost of shelters in State and private schools in certain vulnerable areas. The pro- , cedure for obtaining these was work- ! ing very smoothly and construction work was already well in progress at many schools. It was obvious that with the safety of so many children at stake no chances could be taken with the type of shelter provided, and it necessarily took a little time to devise specific plans for school shelters that conformed to the shelter code laid down by the Government. The Minister said it was recognised that there might well be some potential danger at schools outside these vulnerable areas, but obviously all schools could not be provided for at once, and nothing should be allowed to interfere with the work being done in vulnerable areas. Outside Schools Later “As soon as this is so far under way in any district that extension of the work to other areas will not interfere with it,” said the Minister, “permission will be given for extending the scheme to schools in somewhat less dangerous zone!”

Mr Mason said that shovels, buckets and sand were supplied to the controlling authorities of schools in vulnerable areas some time ago. Every effort was being made to secure bucket pumps, buckets and lengths of hose for schools where the need was greatest In the meantime committees had been urged to improvise A general Government arrangement was being made with regard to identification discs and this would be announced shortly. Parents were asked to provide identification labels meanwhile. It was thought that provision of emergency food supplies at schools could be made by the parents themselves. E.P.S. First-Aid Organisation Mr Mason pointed out that the E.P.S. had already arranged a series of first-aid posts to cover all districts which might be affected by enemy action, and it would be wrong to duplicate this in schools, where in general there was no one qualified to deal with anything but minor injuries. Consideration was being given | to providing supplies of small emergency first-aid kits additional to those which the children were already bringing. In conclusion Mr Mason pointed out that nearly all schools had been well drilled in rapid exit from buildings and in efficient dispersal to homes, and teachers were informed a year ago that whatever their other obligations their first duty in an emergency during school hours was to see that the children under their care were dispersed to their homes.