“SOP TO PUBLIC”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22339, 26 May 1947, Page 4

“SOP TO PUBLIC”

POWER INCREASE “LITTLE ASSISTANCE” BROADCAST DELAYED (P.A.) AUCKLAND. May 24_ “A sop to the public carefully timed by the Minister for a "political ana psychological advantage but of little practical assistance to the consumer. This was how the manager of the Waitemata Power Board. Mr A Main, described the five per cent increase in allocations to supply authorities m the North Island announced yesterday by Mr. R Semple Mr Main said the Government was severely criticised in the Avon byelection regarding the shortage of power in the North Island and any Ministerial statement on a concession on the eve of the election would have some effect, he claimed The mam alleged announcement was carefully timed to cushion the effect of a broadcast talk by Dr. P. Dunsheath, ex-president of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of England, and one of the most eminent men in the electrical world.

Mi. Main said Dr Dunsheath op the day before he left on his return to England recorded a talk which Mr Main claimed, was "a damning indictment" of the Government's electrical policy.

ft might only be a coincidence, but it seemed strange, Mr. Main declared, that instead of the talk being broadcast over the national stations immediately, it was to be broadcast through the national stations on the night of June 1.