RELAXATION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 177, 29 July 1942, Page 6

RELAXATION

BAN ON LIGHTS

COASTAL BELT BLACKOUT

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Bodkin, has announced that considerable relaxation in lighting restrictions is to be permitted in all inland areas, and the strict enforcement of the regulations will, in future, apply principally to a coastal belt around the Dominion. The Minister said that, while some measure of relaxation was possible in areas remote from the coast as a continuing condition, it would be even more necessary in the future for all areas to be prepared to black out at a moment's notice.

Mr. Bodkin explained that the future proposals would mean that, within the coastal belt, which would vary in depth from some three miles up to 12 miles, according to the topography of the country, the lighting restrictions would continue in force, but that the standard by sky-glow, which had been raised, would permit in manv instances of a somewhat higher level of street lighting and exterior lighting to premises.

All lights visible from the open sea and in areas visible from the open sea must continue to be blacked out, however, and the occupiers of premises in areas not visible from the open sea must continue to shield lights and draw blinds to the extent which has been practised up to the present.

Outside the coastal belt, street lighting would revert as far as posS1 -j j the P r e-war standard, provided the sky glow produced by the lighting system was not visible at any point ten miles or more offshore. In all inland areas, external lights for the lighting of open spaces, recreation grounds and approaches to premises would not be restricted in future, except that when in use the lights must remain attended at all times so that if a period of emergency were set up the lights could be disconnected immediatelv.

The Minister said these three classes of lighting had been largely reinstated, as they served a useful community service. Illuminated signs, etc., could in future be used in inland areas during the daytime, but must be disconnected during the hours of darkness.

Strict compliance with the regulations was most necessary in the coastal belt, and both in the belt and in areas outside it frequent blackout trials must be held until both the public and the E.P.S. were perfect in providing a total blackout, which was most necessary if an attack were made upon the Dominion during the hours of darkness. Regulations giving effect to the new proposals would be gazetted as soon as possible.