MORE SHELTERS CONSTRUCTED

Southland Times, Issue 24240, 25 September 1940, Page 5

MORE SHELTERS CONSTRUCTED

The indiscriminate bombing of London’s civilian population has raised in acute form the problem of night shelters, and the Government’s policy on this question was referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, Mr W. Mabane. Mr Mabane said the current programme of shelter production was being accelerated. There was no shortage of laboui - for rapid building. Other schemes outlined included a substantial increase in the shelters available for the whole of every day, and the opening of basements, where these were strong enough, in blocks of unoccupied flats and possibly in occupied houses.

Mr Mabane also said that the shelters would be provided with bunks, double and triple-banked, so that they could be used as dormitories. A million of these bunks would be made at once. First aid posts. were being established in large shelters.

Speaking of tube stations, many of which have already been used by the public as night shelters, Mr Mabane said this was now being recognized and arrangements were being made to pro-

vide supervision and adequate sanitary arrangements. Plans are being considered for building underground civil and criminal courts in London. Air raid warnings have resulted in a great hold-up in the lists. Two of the ,four courts with glass roofs were promptly closed during the raids. Judges at the Old Bailey are at present contending with one of the heaviest calendars for many months. STREET RECOVERS ALLURE Slightly bewildered for several days after the Luftwaffe’s vicious bombing and blasting, Oxford street, worldfamous among women, has partially recovered its old allure. Several large stores have been unable to reopen, but one put two girls -at a pavement desk on the side of the street to deal with inquiries. Many who came to see the damage in Oxford street remained to shop. Women do not have to go into the shops nowadays to finger materials appraisingly. When a big store in Oxford street reopened its windows were elegantly dressed, but customers, pointing to models, were surprised to find that the usual glass barrier was not there.