BLACKOUT DEFECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23923, 25 March 1941, Page 8

BLACKOUT DEFECTS

Lin UTS IN CITY AREA LOCAL BODY CRITICISM "FOOLING WITH THE POSITION" Criticism of tlio blackout in the citv was expressed nt a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board last night. A motion of protest was moved by G. T. Parvin, but the chairman. Jl r . Allan J. said lie could not accept it, as it did not comply with the board's standing orders. Mr. P arvin said the board had spent over £IOO at the Infirmary 011 the blackout and yet a few hundred yards down the street the lights of private houses and the tram depot were blazing brightly. Mr. Moody said the authorities had been fooling with the position long enough and it was time the public re° ceived some truth from somebody in authority. There might be a danger from raiders or a shortage of' power, but he did not know. It must be very trying for suburban people to come into the city and see lights everywhere. Possibly something might come out of a conference that was to be hold. Dr. J. P. Hastings said if the position was serious enough for a blackout it was serious enough for the provision of shelters. He suggested that this aspect should be placed before the authorities. ANOTHER PROTEST MANGERE TEAM WITHDRAWS A unanimous decision that no further control would he undertaken until a reasonable blackout was observed in the city area was made at a meeting yesterday of the block team and depntvwardens of the Mangere Bridge area. It was emphasised, however, that if and when the city was showing a lead the wardens would do all in their power to see that the present blackout was continued in the district. CHAMBER OP COMMERCE OFFICIAL STATEMENT WANTED The view that the present blackout arrangements appear to be more than are necessary, except perhaps as an experiment to be relaxed early unless there is some great danger affecting the country of which the public has no knowledge, was expressed at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Conclusions arrived at by the council were summarised as follows: (a) There is an uncertainty prevailing whether the blackout arrangements are intended to be temporary or permanent; (b) if they are intended to be permanent, there is an absence of any known reason for such drastic restrictions, and the need for some official statement regarding the dangers being guarded against and the real necessity for the precautions as a safeguard against them; (c) there is a blatant failure by certain Government departments in Auckland to observe the regulations, with the result that certain potential enemy objectives of military importance stand' out at night much more prominently than they ever have before; (d) there' is a lack of uniformity in different parts of New Zealand regarding the extent to which householders and business premises observe the blackout; (e) there is a possibility to be considered of adverse effects on the morale of the community (especially women and children) of any lengthy continuation of the blackout; (f) there is a danger to the lives and Hmbs of the pub ho obliged to be out at night through the inadequate lighting of thoroughfares; (g) present conditions offer a temptation to potential burglars, etc.;(n) present blackout arrangements are partially ineffective of their purpose so long as they do not apply to motorvehicles. .... , a* In the interests of 111111111115111?: tram accidents, however, it is undesirable applv the restrictions to niotor-vehicif ; unless the dangers to be j against are greater than the public 11 I been led to suppose.