"MISLEADING"

Chronicle (Levin), 26 May 1947, Page 4

"MISLEADING"

minister's stAtement on POWER POSITION r. % , : r\ S> - *fMisleading and far from helpful," was the comment today of thfe Horowhenua Electric Power Board'l m^n,aging-secretary, Mr, R.'"Ai Fredei'xKsbn, on a recent statement on the power position by Mr. R, ^dmpfej Miiiisteiv df f Wbfkfe. Mf. Sempie had said that due to k 'slight improvement in the position, most electricity authoritieS' in the North Island would receive a fivb per cent increase th ailocatioh aSi from today. * " v i J j "It would. appear," cdiitintied M^v- *i. Frederikson, "that the minister id not fully convei^knt "^itfa thd^jpdsiV tion because returns from the j§tai& Hydro Department show that the previous allocation is already being exceeded by North Island power authorities by approximately five per cent.,K - ; " ''"r" • s T" * ' The relaxation announced by the Mihister would dhly be sufficient tb allow supply authorities to kee? within their quotas. As far as thb Horowhenua Board xyas concerned there could be iio }et up in presJ Snt restrictioiis * because the in^ ci'ease mentioned by the Minister would hierely cover the increase^ consumption brought about by thb • colder weather. . ' 5* the majority of cohsumers had accepted the Minister's statement as a general easing of the position. This was reflecteif in thd tiiiit con^ sumption since Saturday which had shown an appreciable rise. A recent letter frohi ihe State pydrii - Department had ntade it vfety cleaf that boards would have to keefi strictly within their increased qiiota. "The five pei; cent increasd therefore means nething," he concluded.