POWER SYSTEM MAY COLLAPSE

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1947, Page 5

POWER SYSTEM MAY COLLAPSE

-press Association

OVERLOAD SO HEAVY THAT BREAKDOWN CAN COME ' AT ANY TIME

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, April 2. All power stations are so heavily overloaded that the North Island's whole power system may break down at any time, stated the State Hydro-Electric Department, which points out that in the case of a breakdown there may be no power at all for weeks. Such a breakdown may occur unless the demand for electricity is reduced to the absolute minimum by all consumers, industrial and domestic. New Zealand had never faced such a serious power crisis. The lack of rain has resulted in further cuts, and Wellington manufaeturing firms are frankly doubtful of their ability to carry on if the position further deteriorates. As it is, hours of work have had to be seriously r.educed, and in some industries there has been a large amount of waste tbrough their inability to maintain correct temperatures or run their, plant at its proper capacity. The chief engineer of the Department, Mr. A. E. Davenport, said today that the department's generating plant had been subjected to periods of heavy strain for a long time. Normal maintenance work had been considerably. reduced and lacking any margin on consumption a breakdown could cause serious effects. He did not know any previous period when there had been no effective rain for so long.