CUTS IN BROADCASTING ANNOUNCED

Chronicle (Levin), 19 March 1947, Page 6

CUTS IN BROADCASTING ANNOUNCED

WELLINGTON, Mar. 18. Commencing oii Thursday, March 20, all broadcasting stations throughout New Zealand will be closed on Mondays to Eridays inclusive, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the evening' This was announced today by the Minister of Works, Hon. R. Semple. "Having regard to the acute electric supply position the minister in charge of broadcasting (Hon. F. Jones) has agreed, to all broadcasting stations being closed down for three one-hour periods each day until further notice, ' ' said Mr. Semple today. "Last year broadcasting stations were closed down for a half-hour in the morning in addition to one hour cuts at midday and iate ai'ternoon," but commencing from Thursday the morning period has been extended to one hour." The times have been selected, Mr. ^Semple added-, to coincide as closely as possible with the periods of the day when the peak load tends to be at the maximum. "The necessity for having to introduce broadcasting shut-downs earlier in the year than has been usuai and for" a longer total period each day, is regretted. The overriding consideration is, however, to safeguard the electric supply, provided all listeners-m are 'careful to switch off receivers, ' 5 • he said. "When broadcasting stations close down peak load will be correspondingly reduced. I do wish to emphasise the point, however, that power used in broadcasting is but a vcry smai. proportion of the power used by receiving sets. There are more than 275,000 receivers licensed in the Norta Island and unless listeners take care to switch off their , sets at the wall plug, power continues to be wasted even ithough the broadeastings stations are off the air."