FUEL AND POWER CUTS

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1946, Page 5

FUEL AND POWER CUTS

i CONSUMPTION HIGHER THAN i PRODUCTION hYreived Tluirsdav, 7.0 p.m. l.OX IX 'X, Dec. .1. .Mr. Shiinvell. .Minister nf Fucl and 1'ower, has uotilied indust ry that it inust cut the use nf gas and elect ricit v Iia 2] per eent in the lirsl three iiionth's nf the new year and must also aiin al a f) per eent reductioii in the noa! cnnsuuipt ion to get t h rough the winter, withoui serious internpit ion nf aetixitv. |Lsseiui:fl indust ries are " exeinpt ed. : Xearly 1.100 majnr indust rial uiuierI takings as well as hotels, restaurantw jand aniusenient {ilaces, will be al'fected | by the cuinjiulsnry fuel cuts. Only the ' ro n and steel indust ry. enke oveus and railways are exenijued. Xn ennipulsniw rest rict ions are jirnjinsed for dnniestic cniisuniers but the .Minister has niade a Vurther ajipeal tn tliein. It was essential, he said, jiarticularly that they should use less electricity, otherwise jioople would be tlirown out nf work and industry dislncat ed. Explairiing the need fnr the cuts, Alr. Shinwell, at a press cniiferenee, said the total weekly enal nutput was -1.4 per eent 'higlier than a year ago aird j liaving regard to the decline in iiianj power, tliis must lie coimidered satis1'actory but consumput ion had aho guiie up and was now (i.7 per eent higlier than a year ago. Siifiplies tliis winter might fall short of total requi renien ts by between 2,000.000 and 1.0(10,000 tons.