BLACK-OUT IN WEEK-END

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23248, 7 February 1941, Page 4

BLACK-OUT IN WEEK-END

ALLEGED LACK OF * CO-ORDINATION “NAVAL AUTHORITIES NOT ADVISED” A lack of co-ordination among the various authorities in the imposition of a coastal black-out in the week-end was alleged by the chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr F. E. Sutton) in a statement made after discussion in committee at the board’s meeting this week. The board ratified in open meeting a decision to ask the Marine Department to define what authority was to be accepted in the future. Mr Sutton said that he believed that the black-out had not been effective in all coastal areas. He had been advised that Lyttelton lights facing the sea were to be blacked out, and that the instructions had been issued urgently by the Cabinet. He found, however, ‘‘that the Naval authorities, controlling i such matters in the harbour, had not i been advised, and that the Military and Air Force authorities also were : without instructions or advice.” Simif larly, numerous details, such as pro- ; vision against car - lights on the Sumn ner-Lyttelton road and railway floodlighting, had not bp in provided for.