POWER RESTRICTIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 23, 19 April 1950, Page 4

POWER RESTRICTIONS

When, oh when, will the business section of the community be required to shoulder their proportion of the cost and inconvenience arising from power restrictions. Once again at the expense of, and inconvenience to private consumers, churches and all other organisations, the shopkeepers have .prevailed upon the Borough Council to arrange restriction periods to be effective during other than shopping hours.

In the representations emanating from the ‘record’ Chamber of Commerce meeting, there is a complete disregard of consideration for the other sections of the community. It is a matter of no importance to them, that the use of power had to be e[enied to each housewife for an additional quarter hour on '■'our week days to provide the escape from business inconvenience and expense in providing auxiliary lighting.

’Tis time private consumers r

formed a “Chamber of Horrors” to combat the existing unfair appov tionment.

Yours etc., ONE CANDLE POWER. Whakatane, April 13.

Sir, —The incredulity of some is simply amazing. There is an old saying that you can’t fool all the people all the time. In your recorded utterance of the borough electrical engineer the seriousness of the power position was stressed.

Is he, Sir, really'-serious and concerned about it? If so why the added inconvenience to mothers of young families each evening in order that a small but evidently ‘much feared’ influential minority can h&ve their ‘pound of flesh’? What of the young folk and the homework?

The added cut of a quarter of an hour when the lights of business premises would normally be on is not a real saving of power. It isonly in the imagination of those in authority. What great inconvenience or great loss of profit would be entailed if the cut were 5.30 to 6.30 on Friday evenings with the shops shut and. the staffs having their tea adjournment during that time?

If cuts are for all the community then let’s face it as a community, without hum bug and nonsense, fairly and squarely: each section, including ‘Big Business’ taking it instead of having it placed on the other fellow’s back.

Again, let the borough electrical engineer and his associates make the cuts for all if he is concerned in the true sense of the word. If the present position of gross, unfairness continues let him be silent on the matter and cease the drivel. Thanking you for your valuable space.

Yours etc., PUZZLED PARENT. Whakatane, April 18. The early evening cut on Friday was stopped more as a convenience to the public who normally do week-end shopping then. The cuts could not be held from 5.30 to 6.30 as suggested as many farmers do not finish milking until 6.30 and sometimes later. All the cuts were instituted by the Bay of Plenty Power Board after consultation with the various local bodies and apply over the whole of the Eoard’s area. Editor.