IS IT ESSENTIAL!

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 155, 15 September 1941, Page 5

IS IT ESSENTIAL!

CRITICISM OF THE 'BLACK-OUT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISCUSSION "HONOURED IN THE BREACH" Trenchant criticism of the 'black-out' as it was imposed upon, and endured by Whakatane people was voiced 1 by Mr R. F. Smith and other speakers at the meeting of the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce last week, and! as a result letters will go forward to the Controller in Wellington and to the District Officer in charge urging that a variation be made'.

. "We are all somewhat in the' dark as to the real reason for the blackout regulations," said Mr Smith. "Many think it is to conserve electricity, while the avowed object is to control the lighting as a war precautionary measure." He went on to say that the blackout conditions made for an increase in the number of nocturnal prowlers on the roads, while in the event of a real emergency it would greatly handicap the work of fire fighters or of officers of the E.P.S. As it was at present, the semi-gloom increased the difficulties of car drivers and increased the road dangers for pedestrians. Quoting from an authority in the World's Digest, he said that no black out could eliminate a country's coastline while furthermore the use of Hares by aircraft portrayed the targets whether they were illuminated or not. Not Government Imposition The administration of the blackout, was not as many people imagined in the hands of the Government. It had been delegated to a Lighting Controller, who in turn had placed the local responsibility upon the district E.P.S. committees. One would imagine that after months of imposition it would now be highly efficient, but as everybody knew it was a complete farce and was more honnoured in the breach than by recognition. In Australia a different method Avas employed. Test nights were carried out, the residents warned and on those occasions a genuine 'black-out' was enforced and defaulters were prosecuted. Why then, argued Mr Smith, was it not possible for Whakatane to organise something similar, instead of the perpetual darkness in which the town was wrapped. Gould it be argued that Whakatane should have a more elaborate scheme than Sydney. He was strongly of the opinion that the Australian idea should be adopted and the present drastic black-out abolished. Postilion Farcical Mr Brabant said the original idea was to eliminate any possible landmarks for night Hying' aircraft. However he favoured . practising 'fulldress' rehearsal rather that a permanent effort. "We all know its ridiculous," said Mr Reeve Canning, "having the shops in darkness with, hundreds of well-lit cars on the roads. At the same time I 1 don't think we will get anywhere passing motions about it. If the Government is going to do it, it will do it. The only thing we can do is to defy it, but then we are looking to come up against the police Mr Brabant said he had long been of the opinion that an earlier working day would overcome the difficulty. If all rose* at 5 a.m. started work at 7 a.m., and knocked off at 3 p.m. they could attend the pictures or entertainments from 6 p.m. till 8 p.m. and then go honxei —there would then be no traffic at all. Trial Black-out Preferable Mr Creeke considered the trial black-out Avas far more preferable, though he gave it as his opinion that aircraft AA'ould not waste a bomb on Whakatane. Mr Smith said the point he made Avas that the same drastic restrictions Avere not being enforced throughout New Zealand. Why should Whakatane suffer Avhile others escaped. Mr SulliA r an said he had discussed the subject AA r ith Mr Dicker, the district controller, Avho had assured him that the conditions imposed on the Bay of Plenty Avere reasonably lenient. He held the poAver to enforce, if thought necessary, the complete black-out. He Avas not defending the scheme Avhich lie recognised as a farce, and dreAv attention to the manner in Avhich the Paper Mills Avere illuminated at night. Those Avho folloAved the work of the Boroiugh Council Avould remember that

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already between £300 and £400 had been lost in revenue since community lighting had been cut out. The meeting decided that letters should be drafted by the secretary, in conjunction with Mr Smith, and forwarded on to the Controller of Lighting and to the local* officer urging that systematic tests be carried out rather than the enforcement of a permanent black-out.