POWER SHORTAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 3

POWER SHORTAGE

WORTH ISLAND AREA SUPPLY IX SOUTH )L\UK A statement that there was likely to be an electricity shortage in the southern half of tire North Island next winter was contained in a letter to Ihc Whakatane Borough Council from the chief electrical engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. F. X. M. Kissell. Ho stated, however, that it was not likely that the northern -portion would he affected.

The information was received in response to an inquiry from the council whether it should dispose of its electrical generating plant, as Mr. C. Worley, of Hamilton, who is advising the council in regard to its water supply, had urged- that Ihe council •keep 'its plant intact in view of a pos-

sible national power shortage in 1940. Mr. Kissel said .that while the State undertakings might be fully loaded during tiie winter of i 940 he did not anticipate conditions would- he so hades to warrant asking the r .uriril to retain its stand-by plant. Conditions were not likely to be acute in the northern half of the island and the main dillicully would he in supplying the load in. the southern half of the island, which is supplied from Mangahao and! Waikaromoan-a, with a certain amount of assistance from- live north, via the Arapuni-Strat.ford ■transmission line.