CHURCHES ARE AGAINST EVENING SUNDAY CUT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 23, 19 April 1950, Page 5

CHURCHES ARE AGAINST EVENING SUNDAY CUT

Two complaints about the present early evening power cuts at Whakatane were received and discussed by the Whakatane Borough Council at the monthly meeting but in either case it was felt that no change could be made at present. It was emphasised that the position was still acute and although figures now show that most individual consumers are attempting to save in the borough the town was till using too much power. The first complaint came from the Whakatane Ministers’ Association protesting against the cut on Sunday, which interfered with ordinary evening church hours. The Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, said he was sympathetic towards the churches but the matter had been fully discussed with the Bay of Plenty Power Board, which had agreed on the 6.30 to 7.30 cut. The only solution would be to have earlier services. Cr C. S. Armstrong: Would that affect the attendances.

Mr Barry: It should not. Cr R. Buttimore suggested that the cut might be changed 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. While that would probably suit the town people it would not suit the farmers, Mr Barry pointed out. Many farmers did not leave the shed until 6.30, while some left even later.

If that was the case Cr Buttimore agreed that the cut could not be held then.

Mr Barry made it clear again that the cut times had been decided on to suit the majority. The second complaint came from the Whakatane Citizens’ Association, which protested strongly against the manner in which the cuts were introduced and urged the adoption of an individual quota system. The council did not have any say whether it was going to have huts, Cr. H. G. Warren, declared. The cuts had been ordered. The present position showed that nothing could be gained from an individual quota system. Mr Barry pointed out that the council had been informed that the quota system was not a success. Cuts were the only way to bring consumption down. Referring to the manner in which the cuts had been introduced he said .that the counsil had been ordered to start the cuts immediately because of the seriousness of the power situation.

Cr Warren: We don’t like cuts but we have to have them.

Mr Barry: We represent the people and are responsible to the people. This Association is responsible to ‘ nobody.

Most Consumers Are Thought To Be Saving Power

The seriousness of the power position as it now stands at Whakatane was pointed out to the monthly meeting of the Whakatane Borough Council by the electrical engineer, Mr F. Lysaght, and to the Beacon yesterday by the town clerk, Mr L. D. Lovelock. Mr Lysaght said that consumption was still high in the Board’s area but since the introduction of the cuts there had been a marked decrease.

The borough was still up but saving had been hampered by the many new connections, which were continually being made each month. New houses and installation of new household and industrial equipment were taking a toll but cuts and most individual consumers were helping to keep consumption down. Yesterday Mr Lovelock said that while it was believed that most people were saving it was still not enough. Whakatane only had a limited allocation in which it had to keep and to get within it further saving was wanted. It was realised by the council and the Bay of Plenty Power Board that the borough was just about doing all it could as far as cuts were concerned, the town clerk added. It was now over to the individual consumer to save wherever possible at all times.