BLACKOUT TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24145, 11 December 1941, Page 8

BLACKOUT TRIAL

"VERY GOOD EFFOBT" MARKED IMPROVEMENT AIR OBSERVER'S REPORT "A very good effort, and a vast improvement on previous occasions," was the comment of an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force who flew in a ■vvarplanc over Auckland during the trial blackout last night. With recent news of developments in the fresh in mind, the public appeared to take the trial much more seriously than had been the case in the past and there was a greater air of reality about the entire proceedings.

The air observers reported that the black-out of the wharves and of the North Shore was particularly good. They said it was almost impossible to pick out either the wharves or Queen Street from the air during the greater part of the time. Isolated cases of street lights not being promptly extinguished were mentioned b$ the observers. They also said that certain railway lights were five or ten minutes late going out, and that quite a number of motor vehicles with headlights burning could be seen. Few reports from outlying districts had been received by headquarters last night. It was stated that the general effect in One Tree Hill was satisfactory, although railway lights at Penrose were visible.

The deputy-chief warden, Mr. A. S. Bailey, said that from the Town Hall the blackout of the city was an improvement on that of the last trial. He added that wardens had heen instructed to recommend prosecutions in cases of deliberate and recurrent breaches, but none of this nature had been reported last night.

Plans for a broadcast from the aircraft were cancelled. A full observer's report will be submitted in due course to the chief warden, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, and a summary will be communicated to him this morning in Wellington, where he is attending a conference of Mayors to discuss emergency precautions. DECISION AT WHANGAREI FIRST TRIAL NEXT TUESDAY (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Wednesday Although lighting has been restricted in Whangarei for some months, there has not been a trial blackout. However, the Whangarei Borough Council, at a special meeting this morning, decided to hold d, trial blackout next Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., in preparation for a total blackout if that should become necessary. Householders and owners of property are being requested to cover windows, fanlights and doors which would permit interior lighting to be seen from outside. ,