Britain to Unite Power Companies for Lower Rates

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 166, 31 July 1937, Page 18

Britain to Unite Power Companies for Lower Rates

LONDON — t Cheapened electricity throughout Britain has been brought an important stage nearer to realization by an announcement just made by Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha, Minister of Transport. This announcement is that government legisiation is under preparation to co-ordinate the 627 separate concerns now distributing electricity in different parts of Britain. Enormous improvement away from the previously chaotic conditions in this industry has been effected since 1926 when Parliament set up an independent central board to coordinate the generation and transmission of current on a nation-wide scale. All parties are agreed thJtt the time has now eome for distribution to be somewhat similarly reformed. At present not only are there far too many distributing agencies for economie working, but tariffs and voltages vary much more than is desirable. The changes now contemplated are mainly upon lines xecommended by a government committee presided over by Sir Harry McGowan (now Lord McGowan) which reported iast year. These recommendations included the elimination of uneconomic agencies by compulsory amalgamation, also - the leveling down of prices and the clearing of the way for possible ultimate public ownership of the system as u whole. The reforms are on cautious lines and are generally approved so far as they go. The main criticism of them is that they are likely to be slow in operation. Labour also complains that vested interests are to get ofE easier than leftwing politicians think right.

It was a country xailway station, and the village was abont a mile away. A traveller who was making a call in the village asked if he might leave hif> ; box there while he was away. Thu porter said, "Certainly, sir. But you had better put a label on it. ' ' ' The traveller said he was afraid he had not got one, but after searching for some time in his pockets he produced an old pack of playing cards, and said: "There, stick this king of Hearts on." About an hour later ho returned and met the porter, who was grinning and chuckling. The traveller asked him what was the joke, and the man replied: "Why, sir, just after you'd gohe, a gcntleman camo along and took an ace of llcarls out of his pocket. He put it on top of vour king and wont off with your box." '