POWER USERS FAIL TO ECONOMISE IN NORTH ISLAND

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1948, Page 5

POWER USERS FAIL TO ECONOMISE IN NORTH ISLAND

Restrictions Possible

P.A. • WELLINGTON, March 24. There has been an unsatisfactory response to the request made on March 12 for, a reduction in the consumption of electricity to five per cent below the allocation then in force. This fact has been brought to the notice of all of the power supply authorities ,m the North Island, in a circular sene to them by the Electricity Controller. The Minister in Charge of the State Hydro-Electric Department, Hon. R. Semple, stated this evening that if the allocations continued to be exceeded, together with no marked improvement in the hydraulic conditions, the allocations might have to be further reduced.

Mr Semple said that the hydraulic position in the North Island was not improving, as the catchment area of Taupo had not received any appreciable benefit from the comparatively small amount of rain which had fallen in the last two weeks. The Minister made an appeal to all of the consumers to restrict their consumption as much as possible, and so assist their power authorities to' keep within their limited allocations. THE SOUTH ISLAND Referring to the South Island, Mr Semple stated that the power position there would be reviewed again immediately after Easter, when power supply authorities and the public would be advised of the position. HIGH FAULTING PROPOSAL AUCKLAND, March 24 A proposal for an experiment in artificial rain-making’, to overcome hydro-electric difficulties put forward by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, has been referred to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for a report on • its practicability by the Minister of Works, Mr Semple. This information was contained in a letter received from the Minister at this morning’s meeting of the council of the chamber. HYDRO MEN STILL OUT P.A. WELLINGTON, March 24. “The strike on the .Mangakino hydro-electric works continues, . and the men are standing solid”, said a statement from the head office of the New Zealand Workers’ Union to-day. “Negotiations regarding the setting up of a tribunal to consider the dispute have not reached finality. Even when the negotiations do reach finality, it.will be necessary for the proposals to be submitted to the Mangakino men for their acceptance, or otherwise”. CARPENTERS’ UNION OFFERS STRIKE SUPPORT The president of the New Zealand Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union, Mr F. L. Langley, announced, after a meeting of the national council of the Union to-day, that the council had decided to guarantee financial assistance to the Mangakino strikers if it was called upon for this by the New Zealand Workers’ Union. This decision was reached in view of an appeal by the New Zealand Federation of Labour to its affiliations.