REDUCED LIGHTING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20634, 14 August 1941, Page 4

REDUCED LIGHTING

DOMINION SAFEGUARD HIT-AND-RUN RAIDS (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. “The naval and military authorities are of the opinion that a hit-and-run raid is the most likely form of attack. An invasion is possible, but remo f e. An air attack is considered to be less likely than a raider attack. A hit-and-run raid is believed to be more likely at night than during day hours.” This summary of the defence considerations behind the Dominion’s lighting restrictions and their method of application was given yesterday bv Mr. E. Hitchcock, the reduced lighting controller for the Christchurch area. Mr. Hitchcock answered many criticisms of the restrictions and defe.iripd them on the ground that they were, in the circumstances, a prudent middle course, the alternatives being to take no action or to impose a black-out. “For the community the main point is that the defence authority recommendations have been embodied in regulations gazetted under an Act and the Dominion controller, through his deputies, is called upon to administer them,” said Mr. Hitchcock. “The public is asked to comply with, rather than to'analyse and assess them, in any case without the information upon which the authorities acted. Upon defence measures in war time competent, wise and prudent criticism is difficult.”