BLACKOUT MUST CONTINUE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLX, Issue 22028, 30 July 1941, Page 4

BLACKOUT MUST CONTINUE

Necessary For Public Safety

Reasons Cannot Be Released

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 29. According to a statement made by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, at a meeting of the Road Safety Council to-day, steps are now being taken by the authorities to prepare for a total blackout so that Wellington, for example, could be plunged into darkness at once. Lighting restrictions must continue in New Zealand, said the Minister. That was the advice given by the Army, Navy, and Air Force authorities. The blackout was necessary in the interests of public safety. Mr Semple said. It was for him painful indeed to have to sit down and take criticism from ill-informed critics without being able to hit back by telling them the facts and the reasons behind the decision to impose the lighting restrictions. “Can anyone imagine that a Government with any degree of a sense of responsibility would ask for restrictions, inevitably imposing a certain degree of hardship and considerable inconvenience, without a good solid reason?" asked Mr Semple. “I cannot say in public what these reasons are, but I can tell you ta strict confidence.” Mr Sfemple then ipoke to the Council in committee and placed before them the written vieWs of the Government’s advisers.

“No Peace In Our Lifetime" “For far too long all of us have been living—and myself aihong them—ta a fo&l's paradise.” said the Minister. “We had hoped to live our fives ta peace. We know new that we are not going to be allowed to live in peace. It is the fault of no individual that we have been living ta this fool's paradise; it comes from the natural hope of all the people of the British Commonwealth of Nations to live ta a World of peace. But neither you nor I ta our lifetime is going to live in jfeace.”

Mr M. F. Luckie expressed the appreciation of the Council for the really inspiring and informative address given By Mr Semple. Modified Restrictions Wanted Representatives of the Auckland and Wellington city councils and the E.PB. organisations of both cities interviewed the Hon W. Nash and asked for a modification of the lighting restrictions. Mr Nash stated after the interview that there had been a very interesting discussion and it wfts agreed that a statement on the position would be made by the Government at an early date. Restriction Of Speeds Recommended The effect of the lighting restrictions on road safety and liarticiilarly the necessity for a compulsory reduction of speed ta areas affected by the regulations restricting motor vehicle lighting, occupied the Road Safety Council for the greater part of its meeting today. The principal decision was that at night ta headlight restriction areas there should be a speed limit of 30 miles an hour Where hitherto there has teen no limit t for instance on the Hutt ROad between Kaiwarra and Petonet and a speed Unlit of 25 miles an hour Where there has hitherto been a speed limit of 30 miles an hour 'for instance ta the city of Wellington). This is to be a recommendation to the Government. Further regulation of pedestrians was not recommended but illumination "f pedestrian crossings is ta be considered.