The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1941. BLACKOUT DOUBTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 69, 22 March 1941, Page 8

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1941. BLACKOUT DOUBTS.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the vrrong that vecds resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that toe can do.

It is acknowledged by the responsible authorities that, generallyspeaking, the people of Auckland have addressed themselves faithfully to the problem of making a drastic reduction in the artificial lighting of the city. With few exceptions the response to the appeal has been excellent. Unfortunately, some of the exceptions are, in two senses, glaring. 1C it lie borne in mind that this "reduced lighting scheme" is represented as a defence measure, considered by the War Cabinet "most important," it is impossible to understand why it has not so far had the co-operation of the three defence services, and also of some civil Departments of State. That it has not had that co-operation is plain to everybody. What is the reason? It is hardLy conceivable that a reduced lighting scheme ordered by the Government for defence reasons is considered unnecessary by its defence advisers. If that possibility can be dismissed, it is inevitable that all those business people and householders who have, on the whole, made adequate arrangements for the blackout, and at fairly short notice, should wonder why the Service Departments have not been able to do the same.- If it is a case of "waiting for orders," or for authority to purchase blackout materials, the non-receipt of orders would indicate a deplorable failure in co-ordination at headquarters. *»

Unfortunately the circumstanccs mentioned, and others associated with the introduction of the scheme, are raising doubts even in the minds of those —the great majority—who have shown not only willingness but anxiety to do all that they individually can to make the blackout a success. The root cause of the uncertainty is the Government's lack of candonr. What, exactly, is intended ? The Auckland district lighting controller, Mr. R. H. Bartley, has , said that though he has "no definite advice," he presumes the blackout is to continue "as long as the emergency conditions continue"— in other words, until the war ends. The responsible authority in the largest metropolitan area in the Dominion should not have been left without definite advice, nor should the public. If the blackout is to be of indefinite duration, then it is going to have secondary consequences far and wide. Inevitably it must bring many changes in the social habits of the people, which in turn will have effects (already being felt) on business activities, and ultimately on the revenues of the State. If the blackout is essential these changes and consequences are inevitable-—but have they been anticipated* and thought out, and has provision been made against them 1 Doubts on these points, a doubt increased by the lack of co-ordination of civil and Service authorities already noted, will affect the continuing success of the scheme.