CONSERVATION MEASURES

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 130, 4 June 1919, Page 8

CONSERVATION MEASURES

PERMITS FOR DOMESTIC SUPPLIES

When seen by a representative of The Post to-day iv connection with the present coal shortage, the Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister-in-Chargo of Coal Distribution, stated that acting on the samo Hues as he did last winter, ho had carefully gone into tho question as to whether any saving in coal consumption could be effected by making restrictions in public services in those towns dependent on coal for power and light production. He had therefore conferred with the Engineer to the WeHington Gas Company, and the Acting Managers of the Tramway and Lighting. departments of the Wellington City Council, who had reported to him as follows : — DIFFICULTIES OF RESTRICTION. "Sir, —With reference to your suggestion' that we should give -consideration to any methods whereby the amount of coal consumed in the supply of electricity and gas in Wellington and ■ suburbs could be reduced, we beg to state that the various points mentioned during our recent interview have received our attention. "In our opinion, the only practical method of effecting any material reduction in coal consumption would be to take the drastic step of completely cutting off the supply of these services for certain periods of the day. This should be avoided at all costs, as it would seriously disorganise the industrial life of the city and cause great inconvenience to essential public services such as hospitals and similar institutions. ''Both tho Electricity Department and the Gas Company have each over 16,000 consumers who use the supplies for lighting, industrial, heating, or cooking purposes.- Consequently any curtailment of these services would seriously affect the whole community. "In connection with the suggestion that shop illumination might bo restricted, there is the serious difficulty of attempting to distinguish between essential lighting and illuminations for advertising purposes; and even if such advertising could be prohibited the saving would be very small seeing that the lighting is generally confined to one night in each week. "The cutting off of illuminated signs would also result in no material saving, as they are invariably used at times when the electric generators are running below their full capacity and efficiency. "We would take this opportunity of pointing out that' the most economical method of using coal for city services is by means of the generation of electricity, or by carbonisation in gas works, in large units. In this connection it should be. remembered that in seeking to conserve the' coal supplies in England during the war period the , Coal Controller enforced this principle. "Unfortunately, the Electric Lighting Department is unable to extend this principle at present on account of the station plant being overloaded, and it has been . found necessary in the case of this department, to curtail the use of heating appliances during the time of the peak loading, which is from 4 p.m. to 7, p.m. "So far as the tramway system is concerned, any restrictions which might be introduced with a view- to reducing the fuel consumption, would cause considerable inconvenience to the travelling public. The 4.30 p.m.' closing, to the extent at present carried out, has proved beneficial,-; but any further extension of this system will tend to an overlapping of the car load with the private power load, and would extend the1 daily period during which the machinery at the Tramway Powerhouse would be running at an overload. "We have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servants, "(Signed) ARCH. DOUGALL, Eng.. Wellington Gas Co. "(Signed) GEO. LAUCHLAN, Acting General Manager, Lighting Department. "(Signed) M. CABLE, Acting General Manager, Tram- ' way Department.". Mr Myers intimated that this report was borne out by reports he had receivein the same connection from other centres, and it was obvious therefrom that no material saving could bo effected in this direction without seriously disor--ganising public services and essential industries, and causing extreme inconvenience to the public generally. Of course if the coal stock situation necessitated it, drastic measures would have to be taken to deal with same. DOMESTIC SUPPLIES. "In order to enable Coal Trade Committees to have closer control over supplies to householders and to secure equitable distribution," said Mr. Myers, "amended regulations have been approved by Cabinet and gazetted, providing, that not more than lOcwt shall be delivered to any one person at any one time, and not more than one ton in any one period, of 28 days, in place of one ton and two tons respectively as previously provided. "Power is also provided in this regulation for the Minister-in-Gharge by notice in the Gazette to declare that in any area or areas specified, no coal shall be delivered without a permit issued by the Coal Trade Committee controlling the area concerned. This latter regulation is meantime being brought into operation in Wellington as from Monday next, the 9th June, and. it is hoped will enable the Wellington Coal Trade Committee to exercise stricter control over distribution, especially in regard to domestic supplies." •