Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1942. THE TRIAL BLACK-OUT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 227, 8 July 1942, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1942. THE TRIAL BLACK-OUT.

The trial black-out on Monday revealed two important aspects of the position. First, the people demonstrated their close co-operation with the authorities in ensuring success and, secondly, the need for a much more efficient alarm system was clearly shown, If the black-out is to be effective it must be complete and brought into operation without delay after the approach of hostile aircraft has been reported. The Chief Warden says there were few unintentional breaches of the regulations, That this was so may, it is safe to assume, be attributed to some extent to the fact that at dusk many householders completely blacked-out' their premises ready for the signal. It must be remembered that in an actual raid there would be no prior notification. The urgent warning must be so distinctive that it will be caught in the midst of normal evening activities. The warning must be distinctive, not to be confused with any of the noises arising from such activities such as piano-playing, party singing and radio broadcasts. The ear will not always be attuned to catch the note or the mind inclined to interpret its meaning on the instant. An instance of how the community may be caught at a disadvantage is afforded by the fact that the fire-bell at the Woollen Mills. was not sounded because the works could not be communicated with by telephone. We are not casting, or insinuating, any blame for this; we mention it merely as emphasising the point that if Allenton was deprived of an effective warning when preparations could have been made, would there be a certainty of contact in an actual raid. Admittedly the provision of an adequate alarm system is a difficult matter to arrange, but if the black-out precautions are to be worth anything at all, the problem must be solved.