BLACKOUT TRIAL

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 39, 10 November 1942, Page 4

BLACKOUT TRIAL

Wellington District Test Last Night RESPONSE CONSIDERED TOO SLOW IN CITY With; a minimum’ of notice, in order to make it -more effective, a black-out trial was held last night in the Wellington district. The alarm was sounded at 8.20 p.m., and the "all clear” at 9.50 p.m. Under orders from the district controller, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, the test applied to the Wellington city, Hutt Valley, Johnsonville and Makaru areas. A good response in the Hutt and Eastbourne areas was observed from the city. Under the regulations, said Mr. Hislop after the trial, he was required to give notice by advertisement of an impending black-out. This had previously been done in such a way as to give the people an opportunity to prepare for the occasion, but the only real test was that, in which no warning at all,was given. As this was not permitted, be had givep the barest possible notice within the requirements of the regulations. “Reports from various observers tonight, and my own personal observations,” said Mr. Hislop, "lead to. the definite' conclusion that people generally failed to black-out on the sounding of the sirens. Unless they are able to do this they will not get the measure of protection that the blackout is designed to give. Further trials, with as little notice as possible, will be held till the black-out becomes very efficient,” Unscreened torches were most notice-, able in the streets, added Mr. Hislop, who commented that the regulations required, that the only torches used in a blackout must be obscured with paper, in the middle of-which was a small hole. Lights on the waterfront were all out within four minutes of the sounding of the alarm. That was satisfactory. With essential work in progress, arrangements were made for this to be resumed immediately it was found that the waterfront was able to comply with blackout conditions. ’ “The purpose of a blackout test such as that tonight,” said Mr., Hislop, “is to train people to blackout immediately they hear the warning. If that is done there is no necessity for the trial’to be of long duration. The sole reason why. we ha ”e to have trials lasting an hour or more is that people fire too slow to respond, to the alarm. 'Consequently, Wardens have to go round and get the lights put out, and there might nob be an opportunity for them • 'to do this in an actual attack. If people will accustom themselves to blackingout immediately on hearing the sirens, then the duration' of the trials need- be' quite short.” ■ ■ , , An important matter yet to be settled, and concerning which representations had been made for over, a year, was the type of screening to be used, for vehicle lights. The type of light permitted under the regulations at present in operation had been found impossible to drive by in a blackout. A type of cowl and screen lighting as used in England had long been advocated, but a ruling was still being awaited on that matter.