It is an ill wind that blows no-one any good! Absurd though it is that a peace-minded peo ple like the British should be forced by the growing war-spirit in other countries to cor-sider defence measures, the position has been fully recognized, and some slight comfort may at any rate be derived from the fact that Air Raid Precaution measures will have a salutary ¢ffect on several industries which were in need of stimulation. Towards the end of December the British Government announced that steel shelters for twenty million people would be provided free of charge for erection in their own homes as a protection against splinters and blast during air raids. The first order in this connection for std sheets and accessories amounting to 120,000 tons has already been placed and will provide 400,000 shelters, each capable of accommodating five persons. Furiller work will be put in hand as speedily as possible, the steel industry itself organizing the work in such a way that every plant throughout the country capable of production will get its shore. Not only will all branches of the steel industry benefit from these orders—some steel rolling mills are indeed already working to full capacity—but "employment will also ris? considerably in such industries as coal and ore mining and other ancillary occupations. Even the railways, at present under a heavy cloud of depression due to competition from road-borne traffic, will feel the stimulating effect. for they have been charged Ly the Government with the transport of the steel shelters and their distribution to the individual households.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.