TEST BLACK-OUT ARRANGED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23493, 22 November 1941, Page 10

TEST BLACK-OUT ARRANGED

♦ HALF AN HOUR ON DECEMBER 14 LOCAL AUTHORITIES ADVISED A black-out for nearly half an hour in the city, the boroughs of Sumner, Lyttelton, and Riccarton, the Heathcote and Waimairi Counties, and the Springs-Ellesmere Power Board’s area has been arranged for Sunday, December 14. The black-out will begin at 9.5 .p.m., and end at 9.30 p.m. A letter from the Lighting Controller (Mr E. Hitchcock) to all local bodies affected says that adequate warning signals should be arranged. The prompt switching off of all street lighting, from as few points as possible, will be a first responsibility. Shop lighting is expected to give little trouble on a Sunday evening, but possible special cases should be anticipated and provided for. Every available lighting warden and traffic inspector should be on duty and should detect and report offenders. All vehicles travelling during the blackout must conform with the regulations, providing for the power of lamps not to exceed seven watts, and for the lamps to be wholly covered by paper equal in density to two sheets of newspapers. If a vehicle is parked no light is to be displayed. \ “It has been stressed from time to time that the lighting restrictions are a continuing preparation for a complete black-out when called for,” says Mr Hitchcock. "Domestic premises should therefore be in a position to adopt black-out conditions when required. If not able to do so wholly, one room in which this is possible could be used for the period of the black-out, with the rest of the premises in darkness. . . . The public should appreciate that in a completely effective black-out no trace of light from any source should be visible from the air or from the sea, except the severely reduced vehicle lighting that is permitted.” Mr J. S. Barnett, chairman of the public utilities committee of the Emergency Precautions Services, said yesterday that it was not desired that people should turn out all lights during the test. To make it effective, at least one light should be on in each house so that the effectiveness of blinds and screens could be tested.