TOO BIG A TARGET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 12, 29 January 1937, Page 5

TOO BIG A TARGET

-Press Assn.

New Whitehall Buildings to be Abandoned UNSAFE IN AIR RAID

(By Telegrapli-

—Copyright.)

(Received 29, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 28. The "Manchester Guardian's" poli•tical correspondent declares that there is reason to believe a change in policy lies behind th© decision to suspend for a year the building of a big block of new Government offices in Whitehall costiug £',500,000. Centralisation of the Government offices has long been an official ideal, but there are now serious doubts whether it would not be a serious disadvantage in war time, especially as th© pfoposed new building would be near the l'iver, which, as the last war provedj affords the best beafings for enemy aircraft. Whether this means the complete abandonment of the Whitehall seheme remaitts to be seen. The "Morning Post's" political correspondent saytt it ia understood Jhat the Goveriuiient's surprising decision to 6uspend the Whitehall building programme was taken in the interests of London's air defence. It is felt that the HOW building would present too great a target for air attack. It was pfoposed to house six it ft'Ur vital Government departmentsj the Air, Labour and Transport Ministries and the Board of Trade. Over 5000 civil servants would thus have been aceoinmodated under one roof. !t is not expected that work will he resumed.