ELECTRICITY FOR INDUSTRY CUT IN BRITAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 16 January 1947, Page 2

ELECTRICITY FOR INDUSTRY CUT IN BRITAIN

MOTOE TRADE . "NOT OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE" LONDON, J an. 13. .Owing to the iucrcascd consuiiiptioii of eoal, especiallv for electricity, the .Governiiicnt luis decided to cut by hali the allocations lo less esseutial imlus trics, stated the President of the Boar(V of Trade (8ir (Staiford ■Crijjps). Industries engaged 011 work of national hnportance, Jiowever, would- teceivo additional supplies to euable them to carrv on. The scheme, which becomes operative inimediately, will last for six weeks, at the end of which period it is hoped that the immediate fuei crisis will be past. Sir »St alford Cripps emphasised tliat the supplies of electricity aud gas for domestie c'onsuiners and the railways would not be alfected. Electricity and gas imdertakings, ut fact, would receive more coal than before. Hir (Stafford said that coal production was now showing an increase of 170,000 tons a week conipared with the same period last year. He explained that althougii Llie allocations to hulustry would be halved under the new scheme it would not mean they would receive only lialf the supplies they had been receiving. The regional fue! boards (iuring tlie reeent critical months had not been able to meet the allocations. Now allocations would be made on a more realistie scale, which the Fuel Boards sliould be able - to meet. Industry altogether could ex pect to get 87 per cent. of the supplies it received during November. (Sir (Stafford said the decision on which were "less esseutial" industries or tliose of "national importancc" would be left to the Regional Fuel Boards. The Government had decided against ending the supplies to industries engaged on the production of luxury goods, as it would mean throwing tiiousands out of employmeut for only a small saving of coal. (Such industries were inainly dependent on electricity. •Sir (Stafford expressed the hope that Ihe cuts would not greatly increase unemploym'ent. Howover, some work ers would probably suifer short liours. He admittcd that" the oxport drive iiiiglit be aliected bv the new schcnie. Ansvvering a questioii, he expressed Ihe opinion that the" motor industry would not be classified as of national iinporUuj.ce, and thus would not receive extra siuiplies of coal.