POWER SHUT DOWN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 89, 21 June 1946, Page 5

POWER SHUT DOWN

BAKERIES INCONVENIENCED -URGENT NEED TO CONSERVE For the past three nights, the ; supply of electric power to the Whakatane Borough has been *cut off between the hours of 1 .a.m. and 3 p.m. This is a measure which has been introduced, :and will be continued, in an effort to conserve vitally needed units. By this means also, if a -sufficient saving is accomplished, the time of the cutting-off of power each day will remain in the hands of the local authorities, and can be governed, indirectly, by the voice of the townspeople themselves. The Daily Bread The two hours between 1 a.m. and ■ 3 a.m. were selected primarily, as the time which would least inconvenience residents and business houses in the Borough. When the announcement was made, however, it became immediately apparent that there would be one section which would suffer considerably, namely, the three bakeries which supply bread to the town. The mixing of the dough, it was pointed out, had to be commenced at approximately 1 a.m. in order to have the daily bread on the market at a reasonable hour. The bakers, quite understandably, refuse to mix the dough by hand, and although during the three mights the measure has been in force work has been commenced by candlelight, it can only proceed so far,, before it is necessary to employ the electrically driven machinery.

This has meant that work cannot commence until 2.30 a.m., with the result that the baking each day is much later than normal. The effect of this on the majority of nights is not serious, but on Thursday nights, when a double quantity of loaves must be baked for the weekend supply, the position becomes critical.

Activities Inconvenienced

, The bakers’ suggestion that the power be cut off from 11 p.m. till 1 a.m. would definitely not be supported by either the dancing public or the amusement or eating houses catering for patrons late into the night. All dances would be forced to ;;stop at 10.45 in order to have the hall-cleared by 11 p.m., whilst trade •carried on by milk-bars after theatre sessions would be a washout.

Apparently x the question devolves into whether the daily break is more important than the now almost nightly dances, or more properly speaking, recreation.

It is possible that a compromise •could be arranged along the lines •expressed by one local baker, who suggested that the power could be •cut off from midnight till 2 a.m. each might with the exception of Thursday night, without seriously inconweniencing anyone at all. A Precarious Situation 'Whichever way the matter is decided, one factor stands out clearly. Power must be saved at all cost immediately. The situation is actually much more precarious than the majority of residents realise. There has been no increase in the town’s •quota of electricity since 1943, but :in the past two years, much additional loading has been placed on the circuit. The new hospital block .alone was responsible for an extra :3 per cent, immediately it was put : into operation, whilst the number of :.new homes erected have further increased consumption. Despite the exorbitant cost, an extensive building programme is now .under way, and within the next few, months the further burden of many new houses with all modern electric conveniences will be added. Business houses also, are finding the need to install new machinery to cope with the increased demand in all directions, and the time is not far distant when many more units of electricity will be required if trade and output is to be permitted to expand unhindered.

The present situation is seri-

ous enough to warrant drastic .■* action. The nucleus of the whole matter can be summed up in a few words: Either a voluntary ■saving by a united effort on the part of everyone concerned must be made immediately, or a compulsory saving during daylight hours can no longer be avoided.