BLACK-OUTS IN NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 8

BLACK-OUTS IN NEW ZEALAND

LIGHTS VISIBLE FROM SEA MASTER MARINERS GIVE APPROVAL (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND. February 5. Members of the Auckland branches ; of the Honourable Company of Master I Mariners and the Merchant Seamen’s | Guild unanimously approve of the inI stitution of black-out trials in New Zealand coastal towns where lights are visible from the sea. No effort should I be spared in creating efficient blackI outs, said master mariners, and no half ' measures should be taken. Black-outs • should have been prepared in New • Zealand at least a year ago. I Lights from coastal towns could be j seen from many miles out at sea and i when reflected on clouds they could be ! seen from about 60 miles away, said a master mariner. Large advertising signs on buildings in Auckland could be seen further out to sea than where the Rangitoto beacon could be picked up. These lights, he felt, could be of assistance to enemy raiders. Lights from inland towns could also be seen at sea. AUCKLAND’S VISIBILITY One master said that a complete black-out might not be necessary to Auckland and that a partial darkening of the city might suffice. Approaching Auckland from Tiritiri at night it would appear that the city was situated around Takapuna, but on coming closer the brighter lights of the city made its position clear. Good navigation would bring a ship into Auckland without the aid of city and coastal lights, he continued, but there was always the possibility of an unavoidable error, which would take the vessel off the course. This possibility was even greater in the case of a navigator who was not familiar with the coast. A slight error in the compass or in calculating tide would take a ship well off the course.

NAVIGATION LIGHTS Preparations had already been made for the immediate extinguishing of certain navigation lights in case of need, said another master mariner, but there were lights that could not be extinguished immediately. Long launch trips were necessary to put out some and in heavy seas the only method of extinguishing a number would be by rifle fire It was stated that the question of black-outs in coastal towns had been considered for some time by master mariners’ societies in New Zealand.