THIRD TRIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 291, 9 December 1941, Page 2

THIRD TRIAL

AUCKLAND BLACKOUI CO-OPERATION SOUGHT The full co-operation of the public is being sought to make Auckland's third trial blackout, to-morrow even ing from 8.50 to 9.30, as effective as possible. The Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum said to-day that the stage had now been reached at which observance of the provisions of the reduced lighting scheme must be so thorough as to make compliance with a blackout signal almost automatic. Further | experiments were neither necessary nor desirable, as the obligations were known, and there had t)een ample opportunity to complete all the preparations required. Nobody could predict the immediate future with certainty, but it was clear that there was necessity for readiness to meet any emergency. Shop Display Lights Mr. Allum said that it was mandatory for all lights to be extinguished or completely blacked-out immediately on sounding of the warning signal. Shop display-lighting was particularly affected, as no lights left unattended could possibly respond to the signal. In emergency, wardens would have no alternative but to take instant and drastic steps to deal with such lighting. Those measures were, however, avoidable, and it was in the general interest that circumstances should not exist which would make their adoption imperative in the puMic interest. He therefore appealea «to all shopkeepers to assist the security plans of the Emergency Precautions Service by extinguishing their shop display lights at the close of business each evening. Future Blackouts Mr. Allum added that the trials so far had all been the subject of prior notice, thus enabling advance provision for the extinguishing of unattended lights at the notified hour of the trials. He invited shopkeepers to consider their position in regard to any future blackouts, of which no prior warning was given. The signals would sound, and if lights, were not immediately extinguished or completely blacked out, the occupier would have to accept responsibility for the consequences, as the Emergency Precautions Service would not fail to take such steps as would ensure, for the lives and property of the community, the protection which a complete blackout was claimed to afford from enemy gunfire or bombing aeroplanes.