BRITAIN’S BLACK OUT

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20916, 22 September 1939, Page 10

BRITAIN’S BLACK OUT

RUN ON WHITE PAINT THOUSANDS OF GALLONS USED (Times Air Mail Service) LONDON, August 29 How many thousands of gallons of white paint have been used on the roads and kerbs of England in preparation for emergency black-outs? A News Chronicle reporter set out to discover the approximate amount and here in black and white are the statistics. Tackling London's Metropolitan Boroughs first, these facts were forthcoming : Wandsworth, largest of the 28 boroughs, with population of 343.00 C and 238 miles of streets, will have used 550 gallons on kerbs, trees, and in the roads to guide motorists and pedestrians. Islington, with 301,000 people, 122 miles of streets, has used SUU gallons, is ordering more. Taking 400 gallons per borough as the average amount of paint used, and including tlie City of lyondon itself, nearly 12,000 gallons of white paint have been used in London. Not Uniform The question of the amount of paint used throughout the country presented mure difficulty. in the first

place, not all areas have painted their kerbs and road centres. This step lias been taken mostly In the more populous districts. Working oil a population basis, these taels emerge: Birmingham, with a population of more than a million, must have used about 3000 gallons; Bristol, about 1200 gallons; Bradford, about bOO or GOO gallons. Taking the population of counties as a guide, Middlesex (1.G38.000) will 000), 4000 gallons; and Surrey (fid,. 000), 4000 gallons'; and Surrey ,VbO,000), 2500 gallons.