BLACK-OUT TRIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 April 1943, Page 2

BLACK-OUT TRIAL

GENERALLY SATISFACTORY Generally speaking, the black-out trial staged at Greymouth from 8.14 till 9 o’clock last evening—the first for over twelve months —was “very good indeed,” in the opinion of the controlling officials. The effect on the whole was better than might have been expected, considering the lapse of time since the previous trial, but there were numerous individual instances of need for greater efficiency. To improve the position it is intended to hold further trials at regular, short intervals. The Chief Warden (Mr W. D. Taylor) stated this morning that the attendance of wardens was in some cases good and in some cases definitely poor. It was a compulsory “parade,” and ample notice had been given, but numbers of men had failed to report. They would be called upon to furnish reasons for their, absence, and the Central Committee would have to decide whether to inflict a penalty, for which there was provision. Due to a misunderstanding, the Karoro suburb experienced an hour’s black-out, the siren at the Hospital sounding at 8 p.m., a quarter of an hour early. At 8.14, when the general alarm was given, the High Street, Fire Station bell was rung, and the other alarms were also sounded, including the siren at the Gasworks and a railway whistle. The Borough Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid), who had charge of the signals, commented to-day that fine weather conditions had favoured these and that the trial demonstrated the difference weather could make on the effectiveness ol such devices. The engine whistle was most successful, as was a small electric siren at Cobden, it having been heard as far as the Gasworks. A mobile siren was attached to a Borough Council truck which travelled through Blaketown and Greymouth, but shortly after it reached Cobden the belt driving the siren broke. On the whole it was a successful experiment. NOT VISIBLE FROM TIPHEAD When the alarm sounded, the District Lighting Controller (Mr A. E. Davenport), District E.P.S. Controller (Mr G. R. Harker), and Deputy E.P.S. Controller (Mr W. F. Harley) were stationed at the Tiphead to observe the results. Mr Davenport stated to-day that no lights wore visible from that point and that there was a total absence of sky glow. However, as they approached the business areas numerous cases .of inefficient screening appeared, these having been sheilded from sight further away by buildings. Mr Davenport said it was obvious that in many instances residents had taken the easy way out by extinguishing lights altogether. This was not in the spirit of tne trial. Circumstances might arise where the blackout would occupy all the hours of darkness and where normal activity must be continued indoors in spite of the black-out. Many people were apparently under the impression that it was sufficient to pull down the blinds, but even a dark blind did not prevent the light penetrating or chinks appearing. There were many examples of this fault, which must be remedied by placing other material behind the blind.

Buildings which have skylights are required to have these properly blacked out, stated Mr Davenport. 11 people wished to have lights burning in such buildings the skylight must be totally obscured. i_.ast evening there were numerous examples ol persons walking about the darkened streets with cigarettes and striking matches, which'were very prominent. Instructions to wardens provide that no light may appear outdoors, not even a cigarette or a match. In the business area the lights of one shop were inadvertently left burning and were not extinguished until the occupier was summoned by telephone to attend and rectify the position. Mr Davenport commented that this was a particularly bad type of infringement and that, in a proper emergency, such a building would have to bo broken into to have the lights put out. The regulations provide that no light may be left on outside after dark unless someone aged 14 or over is available to switch it off immediately, if necessary. The same rule apolies to inside lights unless the room is completely 'blacked out.

Although work was in progress on the wharf, the Railways Department extinguished all other lights with which it was possible to dispense, and Mr Davenport said the Department’s contribution was praiseworthy. There was no ground for complaint. Ho also paid a tribute to the Grey District Power Board, which had instituted an ingenious system of relay control of street lights, enabling them to be switched off and on with, commendable promptitude. Mr Harker slated to-day that the trial was very good indeed. With the exception of the wharf, there was hardly a light visible from the seaward side. He also paid a tribute to the efficiency of the railway blackout. He explained that these trials should be repeated from time to time to increase the degree of observance by the public. ‘A meeting of wardens will be held on Monday evening to receive reports on the test.