SPEEDING UP

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20744, 2 March 1939, Page 7

SPEEDING UP

CIVILIAN DEFENCE PRECAUTIONS IN BRITAIN SHELTERS AND GAS MASKS (Official AVlreiess) (Received March 2, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 1 In a speech lasting an hour and three-quarters the Lord Privy Seal, Sir John Anderson, reviewed in the House of Commons a number of aspects of air raid precautions and civilian defence. He strongly emphasised the acceleration which had been applied to the

Government's plans following the crisis in September and indicated that the resulting speeding up was of such an order as would mean the realisation in the present year of the aims formerly scheduled for 1941. Dealing with the supply of essential equipment he mentioned that his department had taken delivery of over 50,000,000 respirators and their containers. It also had received 127,000,000 sandbags and would go on receiving them at the rate of between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 a week from now on. Jn addition 200,000,000 were on order in India. Incidentally he disclosed that deliveries of a new anti-gas device for babies arid a new type of respirators for young children would be completed within the next few months. Regional Commissioners Dealing with the plans for regional commissioners, which had given rise to some controversy, the Minister emphasised that the commissioners would h"ave no executive duties in peacetime, and even in war-time their powers would be exclusively those derived from the central Government. It was intended that they should encroach upon the powers of local authorities, but the whjole question of the position of local authorities in circumstances of war wins under discussion with representatives of those authorities. Sir John defended the comprehensive plans which he had announced before Christmas for the provision in the shortest possible time of protection against splinters, blast and fallingdebris. lie expressed satisfaction on the successful outcome of the - tests made on steel shelters for householders, the delivery and erection of which had already commenced in various parts of the country. Bombproof Shelters The next step was for strengthening suitable basement accommodation. For this the necessary research and arrangements with the building industry and professional organisations of architects, surveyors and engineers were well advanced. Sir John next turned to the so-called bomb-proof shelters; and described at some length the difficulties which had prevented his department's experts from accepting unreservedly the claims advanced in many quarters for various schemes sponsored by private individuals and some local "authorities. He was not yet in a position to make a final announcement on the Government’s policy regarding a deeper and stronger type of shelter. National Service Speaking on the subject of national service, he refuted the allegations that the campaign had failed. It had done nothing of the sort. There were places where all the civil defence services were filled, and they had first and second reserves. In other places where the services had not yet been quile filled recruits were coming forward as speedily as they could be dealt with. So far as the civil defence services were concerned 1,250,000 recruits had already been accepted. That was a very respectable figure. AUSTIN “SHADOW” FACTORY GREAT PROGRESS IN YEAR VISIT BY KING AND QUEEN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 2, 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 1 The Austin “shadow” factory was heavily guarded for the visit of the King and Queen and Mr Neville Chamberlain. The King expressed appreciation and surprise at the progress made since his last visit less than a year ago. THE SEPTEMBER CRISIS CELERITY OF MOBILISATION PATRIOTISM OF PERSONNEL (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 1 The First Lord of tiie Admiralty, Earl Stanhope, in submitting the Estimates, in the House of Lords, emphasised the smoothness and celerity

of the September crisis mobilisation. All reserves were ready for sea, considerably ahead of timetable. The patriotism of the personnel was noteworthy. Incidentally, Earl Stanhope explained that the apparent decrease of 13,000 in the current personnel was not a reality. Actually there was an Increase of 14,000, because last year’s figures were inllated by 27,500 reservists called up in the September crisis. THIRD SEA LORD APPOINTED REAR-ADMIRAL B. A. FRASER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 28 Rear-Admiral B. A. Fraser has been appointed Third Sea Lord, in succession to Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson. THE BRITISH ARMY ESTIMATES TOTAL £161,133,000 STRENGTH OF TIIE FORGES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 1 The Army Estimates gross total is £161,133,000. The maximum strength is to be 185,700, an increase of 15,700 over 1938. The gross total last year was £114,119,000, which itself was an increase of £22,273,000 over the estimate for 1937. According to an answer given to a question in the House of Commons, the number*of troops finally approved for the Regular and Territorial Armies during the year ended December 31 last were 38,827 and 77,142 respectively, as against 26,094 and 45,350 in the preceding year. The strength of the Territorial Army is greater than at any time since the war, and the shortage in the Regular Army is being progressively reduced.