APPLICATION TO INSTAL ELECTRIC STOVE REFUSED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 51, 9 February 1949, Page 5

APPLICATION TO INSTAL ELECTRIC STOVE REFUSED

In view of the acute power shortage an application by the Very Rev. J. G. Laughton, Ohope, to instal an electric stove at the Presbyterian Maori Boys’ Hostel, Whakatane, was refused by the Whakatane Borough Council on Monday night. The mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, said that the people of Whakatane had recently seen in the press that there had been a slight increase of 4 per cent in the power allocation to the town. This had not helped the power position and unless consumption was decreased cuts might have to be instituted. “I think there are more deserving cases than this application,” Mr Barry added, “and at the present time I cannot agree to granting it.” Agreeing with the Mayor, the borough electrical engineer, Mr F. W. Lysaght, said that although there was a desperate shortage of power, the position at Whakatane which he was more concerned with was the shortage of electrical equipment. There were many electrical installations that would have to be granted. The power sub-station at present, did not have the necessary equipment to deal with much more of an increase. ,

He suggested that only those applications that were really necessary be granted, and said it would not be difficult to use alternative

cooking facilities at the hostel until more power could be made available.