POWER BOARDS TOLD TO ACT THEMSELVES

Chronicle (Levin), 14 March 1947, Page 8

POWER BOARDS TOLD TO ACT THEMSELVES

SOME BROADCASTING CUTS COMING WELLINGTON, Mar. 13. "The Government is very concerned with the present difficult power situation and will be pre-' pared to do anything which will provide relief without- imposing

impossible burdens on any section of tne conimunity, " states the Minister oi Works, Hon. R. 8empie, in a letter writeen todajin reply to one from the Power Boards and iSupply Authorities Association. The Minister added that the Government had under consideration at the present time, other methods which, although drastic, would provide some solution oi the dittieulty and the association would be.advised of these as soon as any decision coulcl be reached. The Minister said, in his letter, that the question of reducing hours of broadcasting had been considered on many occasions in the past and while it was agreed that a cert'ain ainount of power might be saved by this means, -it must also be recognised that broadcasting fulfilled a very essential need for many purposes and must be retained for at least a portion of the day. Me had re eently arranged with the Ministei in chaige of broadcasting for an extension of the cuts to those I'perating in the previo.us niidAvinter terms and this would eome into operation at an early date. The second suggestion that a blaekout on all dqniestic eonsumers might be imposed by Power Boards between certain hours, had already been. given a considerable ainount of at'tention but in view of Ihe i'net that domestic consumt.'is in many cases were located on the same distribution lines as essential industries of various kinds, it would appear that this suggestion would be very difficult to carry out - in practice. Under Amendment No. 1 of Electricity Control Order 1945, power supply authorities had power to impose restrictions of this kind should thev deem it necessary. Apparently, however, these bodies had not so far considered it desirahle or necessary to implement .such matters. The association 's third suggestion (that evening entertainments should begin in snffieient time to enable those attending them to reach their homes before an electricity shutdown at midnight) was depericlent • on d:he secqncl. suggestion being brought into" operatiohr and as there might be diffieulties i'n introducing that, it did not seem necessary to consider t h third suggestion further at pr sent.