SCHOOL CAMPS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 7

SCHOOL CAMPS

SCHEME IN BRITAIN THE W ORK OF EVACUATION ! easing unemployment (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright: LONDON, Feb. 23 The Government’s decision to consiruct 50 school camps to meet the Tmn.j for evacuation from threatened 'ir-ms in the event of war were referred to in relation to the unemplovment problem by Mr Chamberlain in his speech at Blackburn and during a debale in the House of Lords. Mr Chamberlain said: 'The erectinn of these houses is to be entrusted to companies not working for profit, and we propose to ask these companies to co-operate with us by giving such work as they can to unemployed, and especially to young men.” The desire for the development scheme to relieve the position particularly of the younger men. was expressed during the debate in the House of , Lords, and replying, Earl de la Warr, i President of the Board of Education, j urged the advisability of trying out a ] new idea which had been given a good start on a manageable basis first.' Satisfactory Results The fact that the camps were to be in the hands of a permanent corporation indicated that the Government, if it were successful in its first effort., did not mean to stop at the present numbers. In any case, however, it j could only be regarded as a supple- j mont to the accommodation being pro- 1 vided by billeting. Although final re- j plies t-o the inquiries in regard to billeting had not come in there was no question but that the results were likely to be satisfactory. During evacuation, the camps could be useful as collecting depots t-hat safety, said Lord de la Warr. In pence time, their use ns holiday camps was in no way ruled out in the scheme, but the first purpose to which it was intended to put them was for the use of schools and kindred services relating to boys’ and girls’ clubs. The camps would be financed entirely by the Exchequer, which would attempt to recover interest on 50 per cent of the money thus invested. The question of utilising the services of young unemployed men on the erection of the camps was receiving serious consideration.