THE BLACK-OUT.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 287, 26 March 1941, Page 4

THE BLACK-OUT.

ENTHUSIASTIC blackoutists are inclined to allow their feeling to run away with them. True the recent advertisement in the 'BEACON' insisted on all street lights, Neon signs etc. being extinguished, but a week's grace was allowed a,ll interior lights. The authorities in making this discrepancy have merely followed the procedure afforded private citizens in all other centres where the black-out has been enforced. A week or ten days is thus given the individual, to take suitable steps to obtain and fit window coverings for his home. Over-zealousness on the part of people who. while keen to play their part in the war game, have become transformed into super-critics, is not desirable at this juncture. However the next week-end should have given all persons the necessary time to effectively bar the light from their windows, and the action of the wardens on their rounds in bringing careless persons to book will meet with the warmest endorsement. Criticism of a number of citizens who last Monday evening had falied to cover their windows in the approved fashion was prevalent in the town yesterday. Shops were named, public buildings were enumerated, where it was claimed great streams of light were blazing forth, but the good citizens who were so outraged by these oversights, were actually themselves not fully conversant with the conditions. A week's notice is given., and after that period their criticism will be not only legitimate but welcomed.