FIRST POWER CUTS MADE IN SOUTH ISLAND

Chronicle (Levin), 5 June 1947, Page 5

FIRST POWER CUTS MADE IN SOUTH ISLAND

CHRI8TCH ERCH, June 4The fnll oxtent of the South Islano power erlsis was brought home to tne people of Christchurch this afternoon when aimost the whole metropolitan area was cut off for one hour. Hospitals, gasworks, factories, shops and private homes all shared in the cut whictt was made in an endeaA'our to keep the city's consumption within the allo.ca' tion fixed by the S'tato Ilydro-Electric Department. Today 's cut was made aimost without notice but an announeement explaining the cuts to be made toinorrow was : issued after an emergeucy meeting oi the Citv Council 's electricity committee. These cuts will be as follow: — Predominantly domestic areas, 3.3d a.m. to 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Total sliut down over the whole area, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Power economics in Christchurch up to the time of the cut had been negligible. Over the whole of the .South Island there was a slight reduction in consumption today but Lake Coleridge is still falling at the rate of a foot per week. The Hydro-Electric Depart ment 's restrictions are designed to reduce this fall which cannot continue un checked for more than some weeks oefore the storage is exhaustdd.