Rain Fails To Improve Power Position

Chronicle (Levin), 28 March 1947, Page 5

Rain Fails To Improve Power Position

—Press f Associatioii

By WreZ&g?aph-

WELLINGTON, March 27. ; - A good rainfall at Lake Waikare--iiio'an'a 'aird li'glit 4'ai'n at Taupo werfe ■reported % th'e State Hydro-Electrie Department this morning but in neither case has there b'e'en an impTovement ih lake IfeVel that ds sufficieWt to improve 'the power "Supply position. During the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. today, 1.5 inches •o'f fa-in feil at Wai'karemoana and the fake level s'howed a slight rise. -At -Taupo -.-11 of "an mch of rain served -nierely to nraintain yesterday 's leyel. At -Mangahao tliere was tio change alth'o'ug'h a 'little rain has fallen-. "Gene'ration ligures sliow that power •eohsuhrption in the North Island is still Very high, " said the chief electrical -engiiieer of tlie State H'ydroEleefric -Deptlrtment (Mr. -A. E. Daven port) this morning. " Yesterday consumption of power was highei- than On the previous day," he said, "a'nd the. power stations are 'still having to -generate too much power." •• * The- first week since the gazetting of the order for "power reductions e'nds today, but the weekly check of con-snmpt-ion is not yet available. The data has to be collec'ted not only from the main sub-stations, but also from niany minor stations aiid tli'en fo'rward^ed to 'Hamilton be'fore a review of the whole situation caii be 'made, a review on which future requirements eah be based. In 'the tnea'ntinie -the cold weather has seen a'n iiierease in consumption 'over the last fetv days. The Wellingtoh City, Council Electricity Depart'rn'eiit "has stated that the required reduction in the city has not been achieved 'and l'ain in the lakes areas has not beeri su'fiicient to effieet an iuiprovement in the supply position.