LIGHTING CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 23811, 15 February 1941, Page 12

LIGHTING CONTROL

PREPARATIONS FOR EMERGENCY COMPREHENSIVE REGULATIONS PRIME MINISTER'S ANK'SUHCEMEKT [Peu United Pkess Association.] WELLINGTON, February L-3. The passing ui cunipi'clumsivo regulations lor adequate control of lighting was aiinuuncea to-day by the lit. Hon. P. Eraser. “ Certain lights throughout the .Dominion have already been eliminated,” said the Prime Minister, “ and stops will be taken under the new regulations to extend those precautions to other localities without delay. In drawing up the proposals for control and their execution, the Government is relying to the fullest extent on the active assistance of local emergency .precautions organisations. The genera! administration of the scheme will be the responsibility of Mr E. M. Kissel, who lias been appointed Dominion Lighting Controller. He will act under the direction of the Minister of National Service. Mr Kissel already holds tho position of Electricity Controller, and ho is also chairman of the Special Technical Committee acting in the closest collaboration with the chiefs of staff in formulating the general outline of tho precautions to bo taken. “ Mr Semple is now selecting qualified men holding responsible .positions in connection with lighting as local controllers. They will assist the Emergency Precautions Executive in selecting other qualified persons to act as properly-constituted committees. These local committees will he asked to formulate ipronosals for tho adequate reduction of 'dangerous lighting in each area, and the various emergency precautions organisations will be required to put tho scheme into operation. “ Excellent machinery is thus provided under the comprehensive emergency precautions organisations already to set up to ensure that the obligations laid down are properly observed, Tho wardens appointed in the patrol areas will advise people as to their responsibilities and, whore necessary, direct them to comply with orders. The wardens will not have the power to enforce the requirements, but if any difficulty is experienced in that connection a report will be conveyed to the police, who will have full authority to take any action to ensure that the directions are given effect to. “It will be seen that every effort is being made to secure the co-opera-tion and assistance of the local authorities in the procedure to he laid down and for full authority to be delegated to properly-constituted emergency precautions organisations.

" While restrictions of this kind must inevitably create some inconvenience, the safety of the whole community is involved, and all must be prepared to comply with the necessary precautions which an emerqency may require,” concluded Mr Fraser.