BLACKOUT TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 24879, 20 October 1942, Page 4

BLACKOUT TRIAL

Arrangements For Next Week Particulars of the forthcoming blackout trial in Invercargill are announced today. The main purpose of the trial is to test whether householders and others have complied with the order of the Dominion Lighting Controller requiring them to provide and maintain the necessary equipment for the complete blacking-out of one or more rooms sufficient to accommodate everyone in the premises for an indefinite period. It should be pointed out that to turn off all lights and sit in the dark does not fulfil the requirements. Householders must keep the light on in their “blackout room,” and it must be completely screened from outside. All householders and other occupiers should check their blackout equipment at once to see that -everything is ready for a complete blackout. In view of the purpose of next week’s trial, there will be no sounding of sirens and no general call-out of all E.P.S. units. Wardens and other personnel who will be on duty are mentioned in the advertisement printed this morning. Motor owners should pay particular attention to the special restrictions ordered covering parking and tail lights, and cycle lights are also referred to. All torches used during the blackout have to be specially masked to show only a small circle of light, half an inch in diameter, and this itself has to be screened with a single thickness of white tissue paper. This is in accordance with an order of the Dominion Lighting Controller issued last August. As the blackout period is not likely to begin before picture and theatre programmes have begun, and as there will be no dispersal from buildings on this occasion, the programmes will not be affected. Factories operating night shifts will also carry on, but must be completely blacked-out.