EMPTY CAMPS RUSHED

Chronicle (Levin), 19 August 1946, Page 5

EMPTY CAMPS RUSHED

Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, August 17. The Ministry of Health has warned families squatting in service camps m Britain that they niust quit them before winter but has told munieipal authorities meaniwliile to provide immediately and without prejudice to the ultimate use of the camps, proper sanitation, water and light. Various Governnient departnients are reconsidering the use of the camps vhich are occupied. Munieipal authorities would take over ivherever possible the camps which are occupied by eonsiderable numbers ana whieh are at all suitable for housing. It is hoped that where camps are urgently needed for ofticial purposes, the squatters will accept fhe position and return whence they came. Urgent messages to neighhouring towns and villages last night summoneu airmen stationed at. Prestivick to return to the alrfield to hold off the squattersanny of pccupation. By the light of the harvest moon, squatters drove up in lorries and quicxly moved into (jfteen huts on the airport 's perimeter. R.A.F. personnei gathered in time to prevent a penPtration of the hutment area occupied oy service women. The squatters wrere orderly. Offieials agree that a Government statement must !ie made on squatting before the situation throughout ttie country gets out of liand, says the Daily Telegraph. The Ministry of Health is seeking information from regional ofiicers, ana tlie War Ofiice is seeking reports from its eommands. The Health Ministry is considering calling a conference of regional officers in London. The Ministry is faeed with the proolem of flnding alternative accommoaation for families whom they might have to eject from disused service and other hutments where they moved in. The people, in many cases, will be allowea to remain in the Army and Air Force camps where sanitary arrangements are adequate, but if the occupation oi others is not stopped, epidemics are t'eared. Meaniwliile, the movement to occupy disused hutments is developing throughout the country. Guards stopp.ed 30 families oecupying a camp in a '-bjit many families-, pB. ;t1ipn.gh^Hife>-wire a;hd eatstii-/ tijsh'ed themsi|Lves ia tirq' camp^ in East . and South - Londo.nl Several ifantilifest •have faken up- their 'reside'nce Aif Butfe' being prepared for undergraduates ot the Balliol College on the cricket ground at Oxford. One hundred squatters have seized the dormitories of Mr. Bevin's boys' hostel at Durham.