USED AS SHELTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24408, 20 September 1940, Page 5

USED AS SHELTERS

UNDERGROUND STATIONS A STRANGE SPECTACLE PROBLEM IN LONDON (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 19. (Received Sept. 19, at 11 p.m.) Although the Ministry of Home Security has appealed to the public, especially able-bodied men, not to use the tube stations as shelters, hundreds of thousands last night swarmed to the underground platforms before the sirens sounded. The stations present one of the capital’s strangest spectacles now that Londoners have overcome their earlier diffidence arising from the notices at the entrances, “ This station is not to be used as a shelter.”

Thousands of East Enders arrived at the West End stations before dusk, equipped with blankets and baskets of -food. They buy penny tickets in order to pass the barriers and make up beds, two or three deep. The police last night strolled up and down while news vendors sold the latest editions of the evening papers. Dozens of babies slept peacefully beside their parents, for many of whom the stations provide the only roof since the destruction of their homes. Care of the Homeless The latest feature of London suburban life is the provision of rest centres by local authorities, where meals and temporary shelter are arranged for those whose homes have been destroyed or made untenable by enemy air action. The aim of the .scheme is to provide accommodation for a few days while arrangements are made for persons who lost their homes either to travel to those of friends or relatives, or be placed in billets or empty houses taken over by local authorities. Travel vouchers are being nrovided for those who are unable to pay their fare. In some cases it is likely that return to home may be possible within a short period when repairs have been executed or unexploded bombs dealt with.

Local authorities will also arrange for the protection of furniture and property left behind, and if necessary remove and store it.

Lord Londonderry has offered his Park Lane mansion. Londonderry House, out of the most famous mansions in England, for housing families rendered homeless by bombings. The offer was made in response to the Lord Mayor’s appeal for the London Distress Fund.