BLACKOUT ORDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1942, Page 6

BLACKOUT ORDER

WOMAN FINED IN WELLINGTON. REGULATIONS MUST BE OBEYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 22. “The Government has prescribed a number of measures for the safety of the land and there is only one course to be adopted by a private individual, and that is absolute compliance with the letter and spirit of such measures,” said Mr A. R. Cooper, for the City Council, in prosecuting Jean Maloney for failure to comply with the lighting restrictions. The regulations must be obeyed, Mr Cooper said, whatever the opinion of an individual might be regarding their effectiveness. Anyone who thought they were wrong might, by means of his vote, constitutionally help to alter the law, but while the law was in force he must obey it. If private citizens did not go on that principle the nation’s unanimity of purpose was lost and the whole war effort was stultified.

It was stated that the premises of the defendant in Terrace Gardens were a blaze of light. There had been some improvement and now it was fairly satisfactory. In view of the fact that improvements had been made, Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., imposed a fine of only £2 and costs on one charge and £1 and costs on another, but advised the defendant to seek the advice of wardens in regard to improving the effectiveness of the blackout.