BLACKOUT BREACHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 15 May 1942, Page 4

BLACKOUT BREACHES

POLICE TO INVESTIGATE RECENT CITY TRIAL Recommending that proceedings be taken against people who tailed to comply with the blackout requirements during the recent test in Wanganui, the E.P.S. organiser, .Mr. I. Manley, stated in his report to the executive committee, received at its meeting yesterday, that the test was 90 per cent, successful. Hr considered that propie who failed to comply were inexcusably culpable. Inspector J. A. Dempsey, Controller of the Law and Order Unit, said the police were prepared to investigate breaches during the blackout I rial, but he did not wish to institute proceedings on his own accord. Police reports would be submitted to the executive. If. after these investigations, the committee thought that proceedings should be taken against offenders. then prosecutions could be authorised. “There were breaches that should be investigated." Inspector Dempsey added. The period of the blackout, however, was too short to enable the Law and Order wardens to give full attention to all details. Some instances of carelessness were noticed, but the people concerned had been warned. The executive approved of action being taken as outlined by Inspecloi Dempsey. Wanganui was decidedly at a disadvantage. in that the river was clearly visible from the air. Mr. Manley reported. “We are unable to do anything about this, but we arc able to make our position as secure as humanly possible by giving our enemies no other indication of our exact locality,” he stated. “I propose holding further blackout trials in order that this human factor may he obviated. During the trial last Sunday there was far too much movement of traffic, in spite of ihe fact that such movement was in direct contravention of instructions issued.” Before the trial he communicated with the proper authorities and pointed out that there might be cases where it was of the utmost imoortance for traffic to be permitted to move during the blackout Mr. Manley added. “I mentioned the possible urgency attendant on the movement of a doctor or ambulance, but that even in these cases th? lighting regulations, as applying to all vehicles, would have to he strictly complied with.” he said. “It was clear from our vantage point that no such conformitv was being observed.” Torches used by E.P.S. personnel were not properly guarded during the blackout. All lighting and Law and Order wardens must, have their torches shielded, and their use should be restricted to personnel who actually need them.