POWER CONCESSIONS ALLEGED "SOP TO PUBLIC"

Chronicle (Levin), 26 May 1947, Page 5

POWER CONCESSIONS ALLEGED "SOP TO PUBLIC"

AUCKLAND, .May 24. "A sop to the public carefully timed by the Miuister for political and psychological advantage, but of littlc pj-ae tical assistance to the consumer, " was how the manager of the Wait omata Power Board fMr. A. Main) des'ribed the Jive j)er cent. increase in allocations to sujjply authorities in the Xort'IslaiuL anuo.unced yesterday byk Mi iSemple. , JM r. Alain said the Government wa s-everejy eriticised in the Avon bv-ele( llon ^i^gjarding the shortnge of powc. 'in th-y'Yorth Island, and any mimstcr ial statqment 011 eoncessions 011 the eve of the election would have some elfect, lie claimed. Ile alleged that the announcement was carefully timed to cusluon the effect of a broadcast talk by Dr. P. Dunshealh, ex-presid. nt of th ■ Instituto of Electrical Engiueers oi England, and one of Ihe niost emineni nien in tlie electrical world. Mr. Alain said Dr. Dunsheath" on the dav before he left 011 his relurn ti England recorded a talk which, Alr Alain claimed, was "a damning indiet ment," of the Government 's electrica policv. It might only be a coincidenee but it seemed strange, Alr. Alain de clared, that instead oi' the talk beinc broadcast over the national stations immediateJy, it was to be broadeasi th-ough the national stations 011 tli night oi' June 1.