LIGHTING IN STREETS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 173, 24 July 1942, Page 2

LIGHTING IN STREETS

PARTIAL RESTORATION

(0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday.

The possibility of the restoration of a certain amount of street lighting where restrictions have been applied —particularly Wellington—was announced to-night by the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Bodkin. Me stated that the War Cabinet, with the naval and lighting authorities, had been giving the matter very serious consideration within the last few days. It was recognised that with the extension of the war to the Pacific, and with the evidence of recent submarine raids in Sydney and off the Australian coast, there was great need to afford the maximum possible protection to the valuable ships which may from time to time be anchored in, or working in, our principal ports. Mr. Bodkin said that after the most careful consideration it had been decided that a certain amount of street lighting might be restored.

At all points surrounding the principal ports it would henceforth be necessary to screen or shroud all lights so that the light source would not be visible from any part of the open sea or harbour. It was recognised that street lighting control was so arranged that it would be impossible to restore immediately many circuits without some of the lights on those circuits offending against the new requirements. It might, therefore, take some little time before all street lights which required attention could be fitted with the necessary type of fittings to comply with the new arrangement and allow the whole circuit to be switched on again.

In addition arrangements were being made, and to a large extent already existed, so that street lights, wharf lights and ship lights could be switched off at a moment's notice should there be any evidence that an actual attack on one of the ports concerned was immediately imminent.