RAID SHELTERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1940, Page 5

RAID SHELTERS

ACUTE PROBLEMS RAISED IN LONDON WITH THE APPROACH OF WINTER BETTER PROVISION NEEDED IN EAST END. RECOMMENDATIONS BY DOCTORS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 21. The approach of winter is sharpening many of the problems confronting the authorities as a result of the experiences under aerial bombardment. Two doctors who have been continuously engaged among the population of East London since the beginning of the heavy bombing have jointly appealed for a more comprehensive policy to meet the combined effects of air attack and the rigours of winter. They say there are few people in some London districts who do not spend every night in some sort of shelter. Women and children, after leaving a shelter at dawn, often return to a queue before midday to ensure a place for the next night. An old woman was discovered in a large East End shelter who had not been above ground for five weeks. Something has already been done to make the most popular shelters habitable for extended periods, but much must be done before winter if disease is to be prevented from spreading like plague. These doctors urge the condemnation of all damp shelters, specially damp trench shelters, and measures for proper disinfection, sanitation and ventilation.

Supplementing arrangements for the medical supervision and care of shelterers has already been undertaken by the authorities. The Minister of Home Security, Mr Morrison, has ordered as an experiment the issuing of admission tickets for some air-raid shelters in London used for sleeping. If the scheme is a success it will probably be extended to provincial centres. ABOLITION OF QUEUES. Mr Morrison declared that he was anxious to abolish the “queue abomination” as quickly as possible. He added that Londoners had quite enough to endure without the hardship and waste of time involved in queueing up for shelter. Miss Ellen Wilkinson, M.P., invited 26 women using various types of London shelters to meet at the Home Office and discuss problems, after which she said that the delegates voted 100 per cent against separating men from women. She emphasised the failure of efforts to prevent husbands and wives being together. For one excuse oi' another, husbands were smuggled into quarters reserved for women and children. The discussion reflected considerable feeling against persons who, having no work, queue up early to get the best places in tube shelters. After complaints of exorbitant prices for food charged by private sellers in shelters, the Ministry of Food is arranging a fixed tariff in the London County Council. Prices will be Id for a cup of tea and lid for a sandwich.

Conferences arc being held by many large business houses to discuss the problem of getting employees to and from work under war conditions. The head of an important firm summed up the position by saying: “It is no good asking people to go to it when they can’t get to it.” The main demands include greater elasticity in road and the rail services, encouragement of private enterprise and facilities for firms to run their own transport.”