"FULLY JUSTIFIED."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 92, 19 April 1941, Page 6

"FULLY JUSTIFIED."

REDUCED LIGHTING.

NEED FOR CO-OPERATION. (P.A.) WELLINGTON", this day. The Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, to-day referred in a statement to public criticism of the lighting restrictions.

I "Expressions of doubt and unnecessary or unreasonable criticism make it difficult for us to obtain full results through public co-operation in our effort to give people greater protection," said Mr. Seniple. "The Government is in constant touch with the British authorities and receives technical and expert advice from the chiefs of the three defence arms. Any line of action taken in the matter of reduced, lighting has been in conformity with this advice. Of one thing we may be sure, and that ie that if this Dominion at any time is subject to enemy attention through a raider, we will not be given notice of his purpose. We must, therefore, prepare against such an event because it would be no good trying to do these things when shells and bombs were actually falling. The Navy affords us wonderful protection, but the oceans are vast, and if a raider slipped through we would afford him great assistance by making it easy for him to identify his landfall. Glow in the sky by city lighting and direct lights showing from coastal towns can assist enemy ships. The night lighting restrictions arc designed to eliminate p ky g' ow > obscure lights showing directly to sea and as a precautionary measure. Tn view of the expert advice the Government have received the restrictions are fully justified. They cause inconvenience, but surely inconvenience is the least we are entitled to e.\}>cct in war. We are making sure in good time that we may not be sorry, and I look forward to the fullest support."