THE BLACKOUT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4529, 28 January 1942, Page 5

THE BLACKOUT

TE AWAMUTU STREET LIGHTS FIFTY-EIGHT TO BE SHROUDED BOROUGH COUNCIL DECISION A special urgent meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council, convened by the requisite notice, was set down for Monday afternoon, but no quorum attended, those present being his Worship the Mayor (Mr L. G. Armstrong) and Crs. C. J. Spiers, W. J. North, and Les S. Armstrong. The Mayor explained that a quorum was not present, so that as Chief Warden under the Emergency Precautions Service Organisation he would have to take the responsibility of putting into operation any decisions arrived at. The meeting had been especially called to deal with the question of the reduced lighting of the town. The residential areas were coming in and the business people were co-operating. The biggest defaulter was the Borough Council itself in regard to street lighting. A decision on that point must be prompt, hence the necessity for the meeting that afternoon, as pressure to enforce the Reduced Lighting Regulations was being brought on them. It was urgenf that the Council should act in the matter at once.

THE HAMILTON EXAMPLE The Mayor went on to say that since the informal meeting of the Council on the previous Tuesday, things had developed to a great extent, so that they must act. Last week, Mr E. Bryant, as Controller of Reduced Lighting, had, at their request, made representations to the Dominion Controller setting out that the Council was of the opinion that the under-verandah community lighting should be re-connected on a reduced wattage, on the assumption that sufficient warning would be given of any attack by the enemy; it being contended that the sample shrouds fitted for trial purposes darkened the main street to such an extent that pedestrians were walking in darkness. So far Mr Bryant had received no reply to that request, which, if agreed to, would mean that the main street would be well lighted. The Mayor went on to say that when in Hamilton last Wednesday he had had a look around to ascertain how far that' Borough had gone in the matter of reduced lighting. In Garden Place, for instance, while the sodium lights were out, he had found some sort of light in them, so that there was more light in this locality than they had been led to believe would be safe. Hamilton was still in course of instituting reduced lighting in the residential areas; in that respect they were still in the transition stage. He had found, however, that lights were left at intersections, the intervening lights being obliterated altogether. They were different in Te Awamutu, however, as they had long sections between the corners, Hamilton being more laid out in squares than this Borough. Te Awamutu could not therefore follow exactly on the lines of Hamilton. THREE COURSES OPEN The Mayor went on to say that one of three courses was open to the Council to adopt. Firstly, they could cut out altogether the lights in the residential areas. Secondly, they could instal the standard shrouds, which, however, would be pretty expensive. Thirdly, they could shroud the lights, as had been done in Hamilton with large fruit tins, which could be installed at the cost of labouronly, plus painting costs. Mr Bryant could tell them why they could not have the lights on one switch and rely on a warning to have sufficient time to switch them off. Mr Bryant explained the technical difficulties and went on to say that community and street lighting could be controlled by one switch, arrangements to that end having been made toward the e#d of last year. Control took place from the sub-station. What Hamilton did and what Te Awamutu did, did not to his mind enter into the matter. He did not desire to criticise others, but his honest opinion was that Hamilton was not doing enough; there were quite a lot of lights on the streets. Cr. Les S. Armstrong: Actually they have only reduced the lighting a little ! Mr Bryant: In my opinion, it is not sufficient. Cr Les S. Armstrong inquired the legal position if the Council provided no lights at all. The Mayor and Town Clerk both replied that legal opinion on that point had not yet been obtained. Cr Spiers: I take it that these emergency orders supersede all others. The Mayor: They do. Mr Bryant mentioned that he had been instructed to notify Wellington if any of the street lights were put out. The Mayor said that if the lights were cut off, the Borough Council would still have to pay an amount sufficient to cover interest and sinking fund charges, so that the actual saving would be very little. THE SHROUDED LIGHTS

Mr Bryant went on to refer to the improvement created by the “opening out” of the shades on the lamps in Alexandra Street; particularly mentioning the one outside the “Courier” office. He had a definite assurance that this cover would be suitable for the present and the future, unless in the latter case something exceptionally drastic were insisted upon. As to the use of fruit tins, as suggested, he reminded them that such expenditure might be wasted if at a future date the Dominion Controller insisted on the standard type of shroud. Fruit tins did not, to his mind, meet the spirit of the Regulations. A general discussion ensued, during which Mr Bryant said the approximate cost of the standard shades would be 15s each, while the total cost of fruit tins would be 7s a lamp. The former shade, he added, had been designed by a committee of high experts. The Mayor remarked that any cost would be borne by the Borough 75 per cent, and the Power Board 25 per cent.

Cr Spiers thought that arrangement with the Board covered only the cost of the preliminary trials in Alexandra Street. He added that a gentleman had told him that both Stratford and New Plymouth were

blacked-out, and what was good for them in Taranaki should be all right for them in Te Awamutu. He thought that in the residential areas the lights should be put out, though possibly, as Cr North had previously suggestd, one could be retained at the intersections. • Replying to Cr North, Mr Bryant stated that it could be arranged to keep lights on at corners, intersections and bends in the street. Cr Spiers: Let us put out all lights for three months. The Mayor: Do .you think the danger warrants total darkness ? Cr Spiers: Yes. If it proves too drastic, then we can alter it. I don’t think that lights on intersections would be much good. REDUCED LIGHTING The Mayor and Mr Bryant then minutely examined a map showing the position of the lights in every part of the Borough. The Mayor, thereafter, suggested that possibly they could reduce the total lights in the Borough down to 60 all told, these being at corners, intersections and bends in the long streets. Cr Spiers thought the reduced lights inefficient. Cr North favoured lights at the intersections, and thought that they should adopt 60 lights to that requirement. The people were, he held, entitled to some lights. After a general discussion on the cost, Cr Spiers remarked that finance did not come into the question at all; it was purely and simply a question of light or no light. They had struck a Lighting Rate and if lighting were cut down they would pay the Power Board less. If they used no electricity they would still have to pay the Board its overhead costs. In any case, they would not spend more money than they had allocated for lighting. Cr North agreed with Mr Bryant that fruit tins might not be suitable after a few months and that any outlay on them might be< wasted. DECISION REACHED After further discussion, Cr Spiers moved “that the total lights within the Borough of Te Awamutu be reduced from 138 to 58 and that they be shrouded in a similar manner to those in Alexandra Street at an approximate cost of 15s per lamp; that the cost be borne by the Power Board 25 per cent and the Borough Council 75 per cent, and that the work of installation be proceeded with forthwith.” Cr North seconded the.motion. The Mayor said it certainly was in his mind that the agreement was that the Power Board pay 25 per cent and the Borough Council 75 per cent. He thought, in any case, that the Power Board would be agreeable to that, as the expenditure helped to protect its assets. It was quite equitable that the Power Board consumers should make some contribution. The motion was carried. The Town Clerk was instructed to obtain quotations for the Borough Council meeting to be held on Monday evening next, for the supply of curtains with which to black-out the windows of the Town Hall.