DARKENING THE CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23918, 19 March 1941, Page 6

DARKENING THE CITY

Experience of the first night in which householders were asked to black-out or screen the lights of their homes has caused the authorities to congratulate and thank the people for what was done. The praise was justified, for the face of the city was eloquent of the response that had been made. The instructions had been taken seriously by the people, willi few exceptions. The general readiness to comply was not due to a sense _ of imminent danger. The position in that respect on Monday night did not differ from that of the previous Monday. The inference is plain. A community effort was asked for, and there was a general, practically a universal, readiness to comply. The result was not 100 per cent perfect. That could not be expected, because, even given the utmost goodwill, it is not always possible to do these things to timetable. So far, then. Auckland has done very well. It must not be con-J eluded that the whole problem of darkening the city has been solved. I It is not even established that the excellent standard of the first night will be maintained. It stands to [reason that there was a good deal of

improvising done to produce the impressive result on Monday. Many screening devices, no doubt, are temporary, requiring to be removed and replaced daily. Thus what at the outset was a special effort, inspired by the wish to help in a general movement, may develop into a routine, become irksome, and even begin to seem futile. The wise course for the authorities will be to ask no more of the householder than is judged strictly necessary, and to remind him constantly that it is considered essential. The test of the scheme will not be the results of the first night, but those of a fortnight or a month later. But if the business is handled properly, the public can be trusted to do its part.