A.R.P. Reductions
The statement made by Sir John Anderson last week about adjustments in the A.R.P. services has been followed up by a circular to local authorities from the Ministry of Home Security. So far as vulnerable areas are concerned Sir John is abundantly justified in his reply to critics who have suggested that the services were over-staffed ; but the case is by no means so clear in regard to the safer areas. The preparations in danger zones were quite rightly made on the assumption that violent and intensive attacks would be delivered from the air in the hope of dealing a knock-out blow. Who can say that such attacks would not have been made if we had not been prepared? As it turns out they have not occurred—yet—and large numbers of whole- time paid men have in consequence been in attendance at their posts with little to do. In view of experience, Sir John purposes to diminish the number of full-time workers by about 5o per cent., and to keep a second line of defence of part-time volunteers, who in an emergency would give all their time. This is a sensible compromise if the changes are carefully made and in the right places. In view of the obvious danger that simultaneous demobilisation of so many workers would create much unemployment, pains should be taken to dismiss first those who will suffer the least hard- ship or have other jobs to turn to.
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