BLACKOUT TRIAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 23, 2 March 1942, Page 5

BLACKOUT TRIAL

ALARM SOUNDED LAST NIGHT

-SPLENDID RESULTS OBTAINED

ORGANISATION VERY

efficient

At 9 o'clock last night the sirens in Whakatane wailed out their warnings l to residents that a complete blackout was required by the E.F.S. officials and, revealing that the general public had co-operated fully with the requirements, the whole of the borough was immediately cloaked in darkness, traffic on the mo;ve extinguished lights and pulled to the roadside, while wardtens, traffic police and 1 messengers went about their work of inspection.

This initial trial revealed that if ever the need arose a moment's notice. would result in Whakatane being well concealed from an enemj, and although with a bright moon shining visibility was good the shadows of the high hill-sides assisted in cloaking the town. Only in a few isolated eases were lights to be seen from the official car which made a tour of the borough and wardens had already noted these and were acting. The official party drove first to the Heads with shrouded lights to find there a 100 per cent blackout. Hillcrcst was also found to bo completely dark and until Russell Street was readied not one house was found with an excess of light showing. In that street one householder -was not up to the mark. Then again all was well until the Hospital wfts reached when it was found that although the general department was in darkness light was escaping fr.om the Annexe. The final inspection was in Landing Road which proved to.be the worst area found.

A feature of the tour was that the -wardens, traffic wardens and messengers were found to be right, on the job and 'repeatedly the E.P.S. - car was halted and ordered to the roadside before the officers discovered the identity of the occupants.

At the depot and throughout the borough officers were found to be keenly at. work with all arrangements close to perfection. The wardens and traffic officers were quickly at their posts while a feature was the enthusiasm of the messengers who appeared from all roads on their bicycles, and rapidly had their despatches to headquarters.

Following the "all clear" and the return to the depot the chief warden, Mr 13. S. Barry, expressed his pleasure at the excellent co-opera-tion given by the public and said that the success of the trial had been beyond his expectation. He also paid tribute to the efficiency of the wardens and messengers who promptly at their posts, revealed that the organisation had maderapid strides.