CALL FOR CO-OPERATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24792, 17 December 1941, Page 6

CALL FOR CO-OPERATION

Members of the public should now be ;gitting a clear idea of the cooperation that is required of them by ; the authorities in the present emergency. We have sought to emphasise, first and foremost, that the measures which are now being taken to provide for the safety of citizens against the eventuality of enemy attack are not panic measures. They are precautions such as must be dictated by ordinary prudence while an atmosphere of uncertainty ; prevails; and, v if they are looked upon in that light, they should lose much of' their apparent irksomeness and almost all their- power to disturb the mind unduly. There is a public duty at this time to listen to radio broadcasts where these are designed to instruct on matters of safety procedure, and there is an equal duty to read the newspapers intelligently for the detailed information given from" day to day concerning the means whereby the authorities can be assisted in the complicated task of maintaining services and generally ensuring the effectiveness of precautionary arrangements. Attention has been drawn, for instance, to the requirements of the blackout regulations and to the responsibility of householders as well as the occupiers of business premises to see that these are scrupulously observed. It will have been noticed that further emergency lighting restrictions came into force this week. These are equally explicit as they apply to commercial and private lighting. No previous order required . the total concealment of lights ip areas not visible from the sea, but these lights must now be covered. Wider powers have been given to wardens in respect of the control of all lighting, and residents and occupiers of business premises will be expected to see that these officers- are assisted rather than impeded in the exercise of their important functions. Similarly, people are instructed to take the recognised precautions against the spread of fires that may be caused by enemy action, for which purpose, they are told, sand may be obtained from the City Corporation works department. The digging of shelter trenches in private gardens is also urged, and if householders wish for

guidance in this matter, they can study for themselves the method that is being followed in the construction of protective trenches in the city area. Detailed information has already been given in our columns of the operation of emergency medical and health services according to a pre-arranged zoning plan. If people take the trouble, as is incumbent on them, to inform themselves accurately about the functioning of all these necessary organisations, and of the helpful part they would as individuals be called upon to assume should an emergency situation develop, confusion would be appreciably reduced. We repeat that, in ail the busy preparations of the moment, there is no call for panic reaction or hysteria in any form. What is wanted above all is a sanelybalanced public opinion, one that considers facts as they are, that shuts its ears entirely to idle rumour and treats the scare-monger with the scornful distrust which he merits. Co-operation will flow from a "sensible and wholly practical acceptance of things as the day-to-day exigencies of the war position demand. The authorities, through the normal channels, must be relied upon to keep the public fully informed of what is required of it at all times.