TRIAL BLACKOUT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 October 1941, Page 2

TRIAL BLACKOUT

DUTIES OF WARDENS ARRANGEMENTS EOR SUNDAY NIGHT I O OPERATION OF CITIZENS SOUGHT At .i meeting of K.P.S. wardens this week Mr K. B. McKenzie, the lighting controller, addressed the waidens and explained the regulations concerning the showing of lights during a night ; • emergency, the duties of a warden. tin* status of the police and traffic officers. He asked for the assistance ot the wardens' organisation to enable a check up to be made. He read two letters received from the Dominion controller in which two reports from the captain of a vessel leaving Nelson on two dilfcrent nighis reported that Nelson city was observing the reduced lighting regulations in that no lights c: sky glow were visible at sea. Based on the remarks of Mr McKenzie the following instructions were issued to wardens concerning the blaekThe wardens’ * organisation at lull strength will be on duly when the alarm is sounded, that is messengers, headquarters stalT and wardens. Headquarter: will be the Municipal Chambers where three telephone lines are available. The alarm will sound on the central siren, the Port siren, and the mobile siren, and should be heard in every portion of the city. Every warden and messenger will then proceed round their areas and will note the house number and street of every building showing a light or any clinic of light. If the warden can complete his area and find time to call on offending householders he will do so. He will take a note of any light showing. be it a street light, or from a public building or on a motor car. or from a mach lit to light a cigarette or any fire, and will report it to his ward manager after the "all clear” has been sounded. The ward manager will, a.s soon as he has the reports from his wardens, report to the chief warden who will i*n his turn report to the eonti oiler. Wardens will b; responsible to see that offenders, if any, are duly warned that light was showing, and to point out to them that rehearsals are necessary only to check up on delinquents, and that as soon as Nelson can reach a reasonable degree of efficiency further black-outs will be held only at long intervals. On the other hand if the city remains inefficient many trials will be held and much unpleasantness caused by disciplinary action. Wardens were instructed to co-opt any assistance they require to enable them to complete their inspection. Wardens arc permitted to use electric torches providing they are carefully screened and used judiciously. It is hoped that sunc portion of the first aid section will be available in the event of accident. Accidents can be avoided if every motorist caught out during the alarm pulls to the side of the road, and if every pedestrian wears something white. The only other section of the emergency organisation that will be on duty will be the police and traffic contiol sections. Co-operation with the air force has been arranged, and a plane will be over the city during the blackout to report on efficiency front the air. The lighting controller will be in the direction of the sea and will use a powerful telescope to view the city. It is hoped that householders will prepare one room in the house by making it fully light proof and that they will co-operate with the wardens in the execution of their duty.