POWER POSITION EASES

Chronicle (Levin), 23 May 1947, Page 5

POWER POSITION EASES

-Press Association

increase in Allocations For Next Week

y Teiegraph-

WELLINGTON, May 23. Due to a slight Improvement in the electricity' supply position most electric supply authorities in. the North Island Will receive approximacely a five per cent. increase in , Jieir allocations of power as from che beginning of next week, the Minister of Works, Mr. Semple, stated today. . • Mr. Semple said he much appreciated the efforts that had been . made by supply authorities and ; co'nsumers generally to assist the Goverament through «a very diffl- • cult period, and as the position re^cently showed some improvement he was pleased to be able to say that it was now possible to N make some small concession. The Minister gave a warning that the concession should not be taken to mean that the need for the restricted use of power no longer existed. The position at Taupo- was still very unsatisfactory as, ' notwithstanding the reduced running of Awapuni, only a few inches of storage had been regained -in the lake since the emergency restrictions were imposed towards the end of March. The rainfall round Taupo ; had been practically negligible and it would not be until the lake directly benefited from heavy rains that tlie position would be at all satisfactorv. At Waikaremoana, however, there had been goad rains for several weeks, said Mr. Semple, and the lake had risen about four feet. JVIr. Semple added that further relaxations would follow as soon ks Uiey were warranted by heavy rainfall' at Taupo, but until that hapnened the supply authorities must keep strictiy within their allocations.