THE DANGER COLOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 23 August 1926, Page 8

THE DANGER COLOUR.

AFLOAT AND ASHORE

WHERE KED IS SHOWN

Practically everywhere red has been the colour chosen to give warning of clanger—mainly on account of its brightness and the tact that it i≤ visible at a greater distance ihan any other colour.

On a railway the danger signal is, ot course, a red light. On sonic of the lines, too, the porters wear red ties, which can be used as Hags should the necessity arise.

At sea a ship carries a red warning light on the port, or left, side, a green one being borne on the starboard—the safety—side.

When a vessel ia observed with two red lights on the foremast, one above the other at an interval of six feet, it is a sign 'that she is not under proper control and therefore a danger to navigation.

In the British Xavy, the powder flag is red. When hoisted at the fore, it denotes that ammunition is on board, and it is a warning to other vessels to keep at a safe distance. At night-time a big red lantern replaces the ilag.

The .British Board of Trade distress signal for passenger ships is a Koraan candle firework, which burns for a minute and a half with a brilliant red flame, and then throws up twelve rod balls at short intervals.

When road repairs are in progress, yon will always sec a red flag displayed a little distance from where it is necessary to proceed slowly.

At some convict establishments whore the prisoners are employed on farm work and other duties immediate oversight is impossibje. When, therefore, a. prisoner manages to escape, a red flag is hoisted, while a minute-gun booms out.