SECOND DAY OF POWER SAVING

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5326, 12 February 1947, Page 5

SECOND DAY OF POWER SAVING

(Press Assn-

+ winter in england

rritishers co-operate during fuel crisis

-Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON, Feb. 11. Half of Britain went back to the Victorian era as the vital electric current was cut off. The switch-off is now in its second day, with temperatures still dropping below freezing point, accompanied by icy winds. Europe's largest iurbo-alternator at Battersea power station saved 135,000 kilowatts an hour during the three hours' period of the morning cut, says Reuter. Other large savings are reported from many areas. Government departments in Whitehall and elsewhere worked by candlelight, stopped their house telephone systems, and minimised their lift workings. The city's banks and •thousands of offices worked under similar conditions. Universities eliminated demonstrations needing the use of electricity. The following reports from the provinces are typical: Stoke-on-Trent: There is practically 106 per cent. unemployment in the pottei'y districts. Xearly 44,000 operatives have ceased worlc until further notice. Aircraft Factories Closed Coventry: More than 75,000 engineering e^iployees idle. De Havilland-: All the company's aircraft factories are closed until Wednesday, and the engine and propeller factories for a whole weeKT Milliohs of pounds' worth of overseas or.lers are held up. Morris Motor Company, Cowley and M.G. Faetory, Abington, closed for today. Oldham: About 100 of 120 cotton spinning mills closed." All the big provincial cities like Birmingham, Manchester and industrial towns like Luton and Chester have reported considerable savings, as the result of voluntary co-operation with the official order. In the Kent tcwn of Dartford, with a population of 26,000, records showed that the public did not respond. The njunicipal authorities thereupon cul off the whole town — cssential services and all. C Conditions on many roads are very had and more snow is forecast for many areas of the country. "One effect of the switch-off and tlie ciosing down of many factories was scen on the railwavs to-day. The usual early workmen's trains are running light, and on some lines were almost empty. The later trains, however, carrying office workers were still ci'owded to capacity. The bus companies are still trying to run .their schedules in those areas serving factories that have been tem" porarily closed. The return of snow and ice will mean 110 relief from those conditions that have held up the coal trains. The B.B.C.'s television service has been suspended as from to-day. Like other weekly periodicals, the B.B.C.'s overseas journal, London Calling, will not appear during the emergency, and power to the B.B.C.'s overseas transmitters will be temporarily cut. Though B.B.C. schedules are not expected to he changed much, the frequencies will remain, and the strength of signals reduced. It is * estimated that between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 workers throughout the country are thrown out of work, and cne-third of.the nation's industry is idle. Shops and offices in London have been without light, and have relied on hurricane lamps or candles. The cold wave which lias been hlaiaketing the Xorth American contingent continue?, with winds of gale force in the east tearing down telegraph wires and snow storms stranding motofists and delaying trains into New York. Altogether 240,000 workers are idle owing to the shortage of gas for industry causcd by the cold wave. Central Florida reports the first sik^v for 29 years. The eitrus crop, normally worth many millions of dollars, is threatened. The Canadian Pacific 'Railway transcontinental service has resumed after the longest main line snow bloekage in Canadian railway history. Gangs have been clearing the snow for 60 hours. *