IT ALL DEPENDS ON RAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1946, Page 2

IT ALL DEPENDS ON RAIN

—Press Association

By Telegrayh-

WELLINGTON, M:iy (5. The foreeast by Mr. A. Maia, general managor of the AN uiteiualu Electra' Lower Loard, that mucli niu ro severe cuts would be made in power euiisiunp tion during Ihe winter, was replied Ui today by the general nianager of the Hydro-Electric Depurtnient, Mr. F. T. Kissei. ile said tlnlt, while the power position was continuing to be a serious problein in the North lsland, he doubtcd very nnudi the eorreetness of Mr. Main's foreeast. Mr. Kissei said that wheu rain feil solidly in the eatehinent areas of tiro two fakes Taupo and Waikaremoana, the position would be niueh reJieved. No oue couJd say when the rains would eonie but on the basis of reeords for llie pa.st 120 vears, thei'e was an i>0 per cent. probability that thev would eonie by Uio end of May and a 100 per cent. probability timi they would set in in June. Wliat was not appreciated, said Mr. Kissei, was that in spite of restrielions and appeaL for economy, power boards and supplv authorities were this year distribut mg luorc power tinui at the corresjionding periods iast year. From Januarv ] to the week ended April 21, the eonsupm tion last year was 002,000,000 uuits. This year il was 401,000,000, tui in erease of 9,000,000 units, although e\pressed in percentages, it was only 1! per cent. Mr. Kissei empliasised he was nol for a nionient diseounling the necessity i'or the most careful conservation of power but he (Joubled the need for Mr. iMain's foreeast uuless, oi course, the weather was all out of step with raiufalls in previous years.