BROADCASTING CUTS EASED FURTHER

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1947, Page 5

BROADCASTING CUTS EASED FURTHER

WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. As from Monday next all broadcasting stations will close down for three half-hour periods each week day instead of as at present for three hours each week day. Until i'urther notice stations will close down from 8.10 to 8.40 a.m., from 11.30 a.m. to noon, and from 5.30 to 6 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays each week. Announcing this jointly today, the Minister of Broadcasting, Mr. Jones, and Minister of HydroElectricity, Mr. Semple, said that

while the conservation of electricity still remained of paramount importance, some relaxation in the restrictions on broadcasting was now warranted. In the North Island the use of electricity was still too high, but it was considered that the small economies which were necessary could be made by consumers without undue effort, particularly if the use of power for water-heating was more carefully watched. South Island consumers, on the other hand, were using less power than was allocated to them. The Ministers said there was Jittle doubt that the drastic reductions in broadcasting hours introcluced this winter were severely feit by listeners, particularly by people in the country area, by liospital patients and the infirm and sick. The Government expressed its thanks to all who had coopera.ted in saving power by switching off receiving sets when the broadcasting stations were off ihe air.