EVACUATION PLANS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21228, 26 September 1940, Page 7

EVACUATION PLANS

CHILDREN OF LONDON AREA (Official Wireless) RUGBY, Sept. 24 Every second child of the London area is accommodated in a country district and a further evacuation plan for the capital is announced by Mr Malcolm Macdonald. The total number of children of school age who already have been evacuated is 464,000 and 428,000 remain. The present facilities include provision for the evacuation of school children and homeless children of any age with their mothers, but these are to be extended to include mothers with children of eny age, whether homeless or not. The scheme is applicable, in the first instance, to certain of the most hard-pressed areas. The mothers in these areas are being asked to register at the food and rest centres. Parents Not Deterred The sinking of the City of Benares has deterred only a few parents desiring to send their children overseas. There have been a few withdrawals, but the committee continues to receive new applications daily. The Home Affairs Committee of the Cabinet will meet shortly to discuss the scheme’s future, but it is likely that evacuation will continue if parents are willing to send children despite the risks. The final decision rests with the Cabinet.