PRECAUTIONS IN DOMINION

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 4

PRECAUTIONS IN DOMINION

POSSIBILITY OF AN ATTACK LIGHTING RESTRICTIONS JUSTIFIED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, November 20. “The precautionary measures being taken by the Emergency Precautions Services Organizations under the authority of the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations have the full concurrence of the Government and are the result of recommendations to the War Cabinet by the Government’s advisers, the chiefs of staffs,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, today in replying to the question: “Is there real justification for partial blackouts and staging trial total blackouts in this country, which is so far removed from the theatres of war?” Mr Fraser said that at a recent conference in Wellington attended by the mayors of the four principal cities, also the chairman of the Municipal Association and a representative of the Counties’ Association, the Ministers connected with defence, members of the War Cabinet, the chiefs of staff and .himself, a general agreement was reached on lighting precautions. It was agreed that it was the bounden duty of the Government to adopt any measures that would make more difficult an attack on New Zealand by an enemy raider. It was established that unrestricted lighting could be of assistance to the navigation of an enemy ship, and the steps taken would materially reduce that risk “HIT AND RUN” RAID So far as the nature and degree of the attack which could be anticipated were concerned, the people of the Dominion could be assured that the matter was under constant review, and the preparations could be changed in accordance with any changes in the war situation overseas. As the position stood today the nature of attack which was most likely was that of a “hit and run” raid by an enemy raider bombing ports from the sea and possibly with a plane or planes attacking from the air. “It may be, of course, that in view of the distance of this country from any enemy base such an attack would be neither severe nor prolonged, but if adequate precautions were not taken the result might be very serious, particularly in the loss of shipping and shipping facilities and .of buildings generally,” said the Prime Minister. “It is well known that a plane used by a raider could carry a large load of incendiary bombs, and if measures are not taken to control the resultant fires in their incipient stage .the loss of property can well be imagined. FIRE GUARDS “Consequently, under recent regulations property owners in vulnerable areas will be required to equip their buildings with first-aid and fire-fighting appliances, such as bucket-pumps and sand rakes and shovels, and the occupiers and employees in such buildings will be required to act as fire guards capable of handling the equipment. The General Staff is definitely of the opinion that the construction of air raid shelters at present is not warranted in view of the probable scale of an air attack. As I have already stated, the War Cabinet has the war situation continuously under review, and if any changes that occur appear to the Government to warrant action being taken in the erection of shelters, such action will be taken immediately. Both the Government and the Emergency Precautions Services in the more important centres have been preparing plans and obtaining the necessary information about alternate means of shelter from blast and flying splinters. Architects and other experts have been carrying out these surveys, and reports are being furnished to the Government. This question is being kept under constant review, and further definite action will be taken by the Government whenever the war situation demands it.”