POWER FAILS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 86, 14 June 1946, Page 5

POWER FAILS

BREAKDOWN AT EDGECUMBE DISRUPTION IN TOWN AND DISTRICT Just how big a part electricity plays in the lives of each and every one of us was brought home rather suddenly yesterday when the power supply was cut off for approximately 9 hours. The stoppage, which had a widespread effect, was brought about by a pothead (a converging point for high tension wires) carrying 11,000 volts blowing up at Edgecumbe. As a direct result, every machine driven by electric p6wer was cut out, and industry was virtually at a standstill.

In the town, the exterior of the business premises looked much the same, but the interiors told a different story. In many places, the artificial atmosphere created by stilled machinery , was strange • enough to attract attention immediately. The staff of the various places were employed in other directions, but unfailingly gave the impression of merely ‘hanging round’ waiting for the power to come on again to get back to their machines. A visitor to the town could not fail to have been depressed by the inability of the producer to meet the demands of the consumer. Without the use of electrical appliances in the kitchen, restaurants could do little towards supplying customers with the usual grills or fish and chips, whilst the hotels were little better off. The taste of milk-bar clients was of necessity confined to such thirst assuaging agents as are confined to bottles. Milk shakes were .naturally unprocurable. •~-~.liU.the Post Office, counter clerks carried on under difficulties without the aid of electric light, whilst in the exchange, every ring had to be put through by hand. Office machines by electricity rested quietly, ■ although the same could not be said 4 of the operators. All production, except the minor "jobs which could be turned out by ‘ hand, ceased automatically in factories. In Boon Sullivan Luke Ltd’s. ’. workshop, the roar of machinery T was a non-existent factor, but hammers and saws were not altogether

stilled. Likewise, the pulse of the 1 budding journalist, with printers’ ’ink running through his veins, who poked his head through the door of the Beacon factory, would not have beat. suddenly faster in tune with the roar of the presses, for this latter was conspicuously absent. Hot news

lay in the columns growing steadily whilst it became more and more apparent that the first half of '‘the light of day’ would be printed in ‘the dark of night.’ Perhaps one of the luckiest con- ■ cerns in the district was the Rangi- • taiki Plains Dairy Company which at present is only collecting cream twice weekly. Yesterday happened fortunately to be an “off” day when ; no machinery would normally have been working. Although some slight inconvenience was caused through . lack of lighting, no production what- . soever was lost. In the homes, every modern con- • venience became an inconvenience. Housewives possessing electric stoves, who left the .dinner on to - cook whilst they went shopping yesterday morning, were dismayed on their return to find the meat still

raw, and the vegetables in a similar condition. Not even consoling a cup of tea could be offered their ravenous husbands returning to lunch. On the farms, the situation was likewise not as serious as it would undoubtedly have been at the height of the season, but hand-milk-ing even a few cows was definitely not a job to be relished.