WAR PRECAUTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24790, 15 December 1941, Page 5

WAR PRECAUTIONS

AUSTRALIAN MEASURES ELIMINATION OF SKY GLOW MELBOURNE, Dec. 13. Under an order issued yesterday afternoon, all shops except pharmacies and those selling food exclusively ceased trading at 6 o'clock last night. No order has yet been issued requiring a complete blackout, present plans requiring only elimination of a sky glow. Preparations are being made so that a black-out can be effected at a moment’s notice. The police have been given full power to extinguish all exterior lights, those in shop windows, and Neon signs. The Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, left tb-night for Canberra, where Parliament will meet on Tuesday. The Commonwealth Government has taken over control of the State railways, according to an announcement by the Minister of Transport (Senator G. Lawson). The railways will be administered by a War Railways Committee. Senator Lawson said the action would provide for complete co-ordina-tion between the Army and Transport Departments. EVACUATION OF CHILDREN (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 13. The Minister of National Emergency Services, Mr R. J. Heffron, stated that plans had been made for the evacuation of about 100,000 children from vulnerable areas to safe country districts. The State Cabinet decided to place the Police Force and fire brigades on a war footing. Cabinet made plans for the evacuation of patients from large metropolitan hospitals.