THE BLACKOUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23917, 18 March 1941, Page 10

THE BLACKOUT

Sir. —Ample evidence indicates tho uncertainty existing oh the part of residents and of wardens as to the degree of effectiveness required by the authorities in the present blackout, so public discussion may servo a useful purpose. Tho obvious starting point is "What is the purpose of tho "blackout;-'" Various good reasons may be advanced, but tho evidence is, 1 think, that tho purpose in view is; To avoid giving facilities to enemy ships of war whereby to obtain exact position and range with a view to naval bombardment or establishments, the destruction of which is of importauco to the enemy. Thus, the complete blackout of lights visible from the sea and of lights calculated to cause general sky glow is called for. There appears, however, to bp uncertainty on various points as, for example. what constitutes visibility from tho sea. Surely this will refer to lights of sufficient power and in such a position as to bo visible from those areas at sea to which a raider conceivably could penetrate. With such a definition the shallow waters of the Manukau and Waitemata Harbours will naturally not require to be included, and so lights visible from shallow waters but screened from the open sea would need no .screening, provided the lights in question do not contributo appreciably to sky glow. But what type of light will contribute to sky glow ?"Obviously lights so placed that their direct rays are allowed to shine on to the clouds will do so. There are, however, many other lights whose direct rays are prevented from shining skywards and it does not yet appear to be" defined whether these are to ho entirely blacked out or not. One allegedly official statement says that houses which are screened from the sea and also from the street need not be blacked out. But. may not such houses contain lights which materially contribute to sky glow ? From last week's experience there is ample evidence that wardens in adjacent districts are inclined to seek to enforce the blackout in varying degrees of severity. This condition of affairs is calculated to cause discontent among competing shopkeepers whose .respective premises are under the jurisdiction of different wardens. Should not there be provision for liaison between wardens, thus to avoid unnecessary expense and discontent? A further point in need of ! clarification is tho definition of n warden's powers in the supervision of portions of premises not visible from the street. Waudkn.