22 OCTOBER 1937, Page 3

Air Raid Precautions One of the first questions to be

discussed by the new Parliament is that of air raid precautions. The recent Government announcement that only some ro or 12 per cent. of the cost of measures of protection against aerial attack will fall upon local authorities should end the protracted controversy on that point. But, in spite of various Home Office pamphlets on the subject individual citizens are still very much in the dark regarding their individual action and their part in any corporate action. In that respect Berlin and Paris are far ahead of London. Preparedness against a Possible contingency does nothing to bring the contingency nearer—rather the reverse—and in this case to recognise the possibility of the contingency does not mean assuming it to be imminent. -It would- be interesting to know the Government's view on the scheme outlined in the corre- spondence in The Times for building in large cities under- ground car parks which in time of war would afford admirable air-raid shelters. Apart from its other advantages, the scheme would find a useful place in a public works programme.