BLACKOUT TRIAL IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 289, 4 September 1942, Page 6

BLACKOUT TRIAL IN WELLINGTON

Successful Result

FURTHER TESTS NEEDED, SAYS MAYOR

A total blackout trial was held throughout the Wellington and Hutt Valley E.P.S. district last night. The mayor, Mr. Hislop, stated afterward that, on his observation, the result was good, though not quite so good as on the previous occasion. It was clear that further trials were needed in order to ensure the required degree of effectiveness.

The alarm, the- time of which was kept a close secret, was sounded at 9.10 p.m. and -the all-clear went at 10.10 p.m. Most lights disappeared promptly on the sounding of the sirens. It is considered, however, that a number of people, who have not yet provided proper blackouts, merely extinguished- their lights, as they have done in the past, and it has been suggested that a trial starting at an earlier hour and extending for a longer period might give a 'better indication of the district’s real preparedness for an enemy raid. Trams ceased to run during the trial but motor-vehicles were allowed to proceed at slow speed on reduced parking lights. Blackouts having largely lost their novelty, .there were fewer people about the streets than on past occasions, and behaviour was quiet and orderly. There was no restriction on movement. Members of the warden’s group and the police and traffic units pf the E.P.S. were on duty, but other personnel were not required as it was not a full-scale test of the organization. The sounding of a harbour board whistle at'9.55 p.m. was mistaken by some people for the all-clear; a number of lights went on, but they were quickly .extinguished again. Major’s Comments.

After the trial Mr. Hislop said that he had viewed the blackout from the top of Mt. Victoria, the same position from which he had viewed others. On the waterfront there was a considerable improvement; lights disappeared much more quickly than on previous occasions. In order to carry on essential work the waterfront was allowed to switch lights on again as soon as it was seen that there was a rapid and effective response' to the warning signal. The blackout in the Hutt Valley appeared to be good. Over the city area generally -to the north of Ghuznee Street it seemed to be practically perfect. South of Ghuznee Street—in Upper Willis and Cuba Streets and ou the Brooklyn hills—a considerable number of dim lights were visible. These appeared to be cases where blackout blinds had been drawn, but not. with enough care to obscure the whole window. In -the early stages of the trial there were several cases of gross breaches of the regulations by motorcars. Numbers had been taken and prosecutions would follow. It had also been reported that certain buildingowners in the city had failed to comply with the regulations and in these cases, too, there would be prosecutions.

"It should be understood," said Mr. Hislop, “that prosecutions are taken only where it is clear that no genuine attempt has been made to comply with the regulations." A greater number of sirens were in operation, so that the warning signal was much improved. Wardens did a good job in checking up on the blackout. An Army plane was overhead observing the result.