THREAT TO INDUSTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1947, Page 8

THREAT TO INDUSTRY

AUCKLAND, Marcli 20. The increased schedule of power cuts by the Waitemata Electric Power Board is so far the onlv visible reaction of the two supply authorities in the Auckland district to the control ordei approved.in Wellington by vvhich powe. boards have the responsibility thrusi upon them Qf deciding liow to iinposs. the 20 per eent. cut to meet the power emergency. The Auckland board has made fno announcement of its attitude to the Government action nor to its generai proposals for the future except to state that the cuts which have been imposea so far this week will be continued with out change until Sunday night. Explaining the Auckland board 's attitude, the ehairman (Mr. S. I. Crookes) said no authoritative versioa of the order Had yet .bee'ti-. reeeived. anq none was expected until vtomon'6w. Lacking any detailed information as to the exact responsibilities of the board or its powers and privileges he and hi> officers had decided to wait. until al; these facts were available before expressing any opinions. The situation had already changed unexpectedly once this week.

The only comment made by Mr. A - Main, generai manager of the Waite mata board, on the issuing of the con tr-ol order was that he was "not surprised ' '. Widespread and most severe restrictions are embodied in the new schedule which will be observed from noon to morrow by the Waitemata board. However, industry for the iirst time this year will feel the effect of the length;, shutdown periods, and although no announcement has been made by the Auckland Board the threat to industry is probably even grcater in its area.