POWER CRISIS DISCUSSED

Chronicle (Levin), 18 March 1947, Page 5

POWER CRISIS DISCUSSED

— Press Association

Emergency Meeting Examines Saving Proposals

Bv Teleqraph-

WELLINGTON, March 18. Convened because of the electricity crisis, a special meeting of the emergency committee of the Electric Power Boards' and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand began this morning in Wellington to examine proposals for remedying the situation, with the object of making representations to the Government. . 'It is proof of the gravity with which the situation is regarded that in the brief time since arrangements were made for the conference on Thursday last, there has been a great inrush of correspondence, telegrams and telephone messages from responsible authorities. The committee today began consideration of all the proposals prior to confering with the general manager of the State Hydro-Electric Department, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel. It is- possible that there will be later consultations with the Prime Minister and Minister of-Works, who is at present absent from Wellington. » , . A preliminary survey suggested that power -boards and supply authorities generally eonsidered radio broadcasting hours should be cut to the minimum, perhaps to an hour each in the morning and evenin'g so that important announcements could be made over selected national stations. This was one of the principal proposals requiring consideration. There was an emphatic feeling among affiliations that the crisis needed drastic measures. ' . The president of the association, Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) said the preliminary discussions must necessarily be concerned with two broad issues — policy questions, which concerned the Government, and control questions, which were in the hands of Mr. Kissell. Co-operation with the Government was the prime factor in any attempt to meet the situation and to cause the least inconvenience to the people. It was also desired to remedy the position caused by the receipt of sudden notices to cut off power. These had been very inconvenient to farmers, industrialists and dther sections of the eommunity. Should it be necessary, said Mr. Nash, a meeting of the executive of the association would be called. Some of the proposals put- forward appear on page 6 of this Issue.