POWER SHORTAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 168, 15 October 1941, Page 5

POWER SHORTAGE

WHAKATANE'S ALLOCATION

INADEQUATE

INCREASE ESSENTIAL

"There is the question of the new State houses. It is impossible for us to supply them with

power unless we receive an increase in our allocation," commented His Worship the Mayor -at Monday's meeting, of the Borough Council, when the electric power problenj was under discussion. "We cannot keep within our allocation at present let alone supply the additional twenty-seven all-electric houses being built. If the Government wants power for those residences the Government will have to give US' more power." In his report the electrical engineer (Mr F. W. Lysaght) suggested that the Department be advised of jFuis position and His Worship mov« ed to that effect, the motion being carried.

Position Serious

The engineer, in his report of the Engineers' Conference held at Wellington recently revealed that the* position was serious. The Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr F. T. M. Kissel, it the opening of the Dominion Power "Board and Supply Authorities En- . gineers Conference had stated that the continuing serious shortage o? electric power and the probability of added difficulty next winter, particularly in the North Island, would cause added worries during the -° m xng winter to all supply authorities. Mr Kissel had gone on to say that he hoped that his department would be able to continue to meet all essential obligations. The plants could not supply any more than they did tluring the last winter, and any further loading would simply mean complete wrecking. The position m • regard to additional generating plant was not so satisfactory and the utmost difficulty was being experienced in obtaining delivery of plant dong overdue under contractThat applied particularly to the 'plant for the lower Waikaremoana development. Certain plant was to arrive in the very near future and the Department's erection gangs would commence assembly at once, but whether it would be possible to get the plant going by next winte* was impossible to forecast. In the meantime operating costs amounted to an additional £1000 per day to .the Department.

BLACKOUT TO STAY

DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED

Linked with the discussion on the •shortage was the problem of the blackout. The engineer reported thai from enquiries made in Wellington the prospect of any easing of blackout restrictions was at the present time very remote,, and this waa «iade very clear when His Worship read a letter from the Minister's office stating that the measure had been introduced on the recommen. dation of Chief of the armed forces. This reply to the Council's enquiries told members no more than they had previously known remarked Mi Barry, and was all the information the Council was likely to. be given. Unfair Distribution Similar dissatisfaction to that expressed at the last meeting of the Council was voiced, Gr W. Sullivan remarking that the shortage of power appeared to be responsible for the blackout being enforcecd as il was, and if so the power should be «ore equitably distributed. Other [yvns were able to maintain ordin-y-H gift ing and still cope with the normal increase in consumption. His Worship: "Our quota is 5 per cent more than last year and so far we have been 8 per cent to 9 percent over last year's consumption even with the blackout in force." He added that therefore the supply of additional State houses was impossible. "Our development has apparently been more rapid than other towns and not provided for," said Cr Sullivan, adding that he noted frequently that the quota was too low in comparison with other centres. Other towns were continuing with all community lighting as usual, while Whakatane even Avith the blackout could not carry on. The quota was far too low. Further Investigation Cr S. S. Shapley pointed out that .Britain was lifting blackout restric-

tions and in view of that he could not see why Whakatane should be so inconvenienced. In his opinion it was not necessary from a war point of view as to be in readiness for a blackout should be sufficient. "The Government should be honest about the position," he said adding that the people of Whakatane had humbly accepted the restrictions but were entitled to know tlic true position.

The Mayor announced that lie intended calling a meeting of the Lighting Reduction Committee for the area to investigate the possibility of easing the position in Whakatane, the committee comprising Mr Dickcr (engineer to the Bay Power Board), the Borough Engineer, Sgt. 3VI. Farrell and himself, and with this the discussion concluded.