USES OF ELECTRICITY.

Shannon News, 1 February 1924, Page 3

USES OF ELECTRICITY.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE CONSUMERS. A' "News" representative, seeking information as to the possibilities in front of the Horowhanua district when tlie Mangahao. current is fully installed, approached the Power Board's Engineer, Mr T. R. Overton, and was furnished with an interesting outline of what can be done in the electrically-equipped home. Mr Overton stated that essential factors contributing to a wider use of electricity were:— (1) Diminished cost of tttie appliances themselves. (2) Their increased reliability; (3;. Lower costs of energy recpirc'i ic work them.

Referring to (1) standardisation u manufacture, careful purchasi ig on the part of the user, the grouping of portions of the district by :.o,e l"..\ur Board and financial assistance to those who would postpone the installation of electricity until more convenient times, are the principal features in this particular item. Touching on the second factor, "their increased reliability," this reliability may be brought -about by the Government using the best materials and workmanship on the generating side, and the Power Board doing likewise on the distribution side. The latter body also keeping a close record of qualifications of wiremen who are doing the actual installation work and carefully inspecting, same during the time it is being done. The Government is, of course, gradually increasing the reliability of the generating plants by interlinking superhydraulic stations and at the same time will be able to produce cheaper electricity. Regarding "Lower costs of energy required to work electrical appliances" the Power Board has <a defin it© policy to develop its district con sequently it has to supply electricity as cheap as any other form of power or lighting, and to do this it is com pelled to' divert in as m|any directions as. possible the uses of electricity .over as many hours of the day as possible. As you are aware, electric lighting is thei ideal illumdnanrtl, 'clean, sale, and can t>e reflected wherever wanted; it does not consume oxygen, nor does it give off unbreathabie or poisotnouis (gjatfes. Expert colour matchers use it in lieu of natural daylight and actually at less cost than oil, gas or kerosene. It is not the price per cubic foot or pie-r unit that one has to consider in comparing electrical costs, but it is the cost of redecorating rooms sullied by the dirt and products of combustion which destroy pictures, book'bindings, silk hangings and the like, aind remember the trouble does not end Dhere—this dirt is injurious to health and is certainly most distressing when contrasted with the cheerful aspect, fresh and bright .decoralions of an electrically lighted home. Fan.—'By its means foul air is exhausted from any room and' replaced .with a cool refreshing breeze. Man is by nature an opeh-aii animal, and the nearer indoor conditions can be made to approach those experienced out of doors, the better for his health and temper. This is accomplished by means of an adjustable electric fan which costs less than one-half penny per hour to run.

Pumping From propelling air to pumping water is only.a short step. Hjere again the service rendered by float controlled motor is parfeet in its action and very cheap in its operation. On the electric farm the cows and horses do> not depend on the winds of the air for their daily drink.

Washing Machines.—The elimination of dirt and the handling of water naturally suggests the washing oi clothes—one Qf the .ever increasing woiries of the house-wife. Washing, wringing and mangling ana done with the utmost ease at a cost of a shilling or two per month, whilst wear and tear on clothes is vastly less than that due to ordinary laundry machinery, and I have heard it deliberately remarked that an electric iron is more useful than a man about the house. Heating—Electrical energy is capable of being converted into heat with great convenience, safety and economy. It can be directed just where it is wanted, from 'head t: foot. There are no spent gjases to dispose of, no ashes to clean out, 1.0 grates to' blacklead. The .radiator can be switched on instantly and one may sit down and do mending without further delay.

Spring Cleaning—Dust is bad for lungs,-throat, nose, eyes and clothes. That it should be produced under our unnatural civilised conditions is inevitable and we have to get rid of it —not shift or stir it up and let it sjettle again. A tiny li/ttie electric motor steps in and solves the problem cheaply and thoroughly for you. A beautiful piece of mechanism which can be held in one hand, drives u small fan at a prodigious spaed, over 7000 Devolutions pier mitoute, which creates a powerful draught of air—this draught carries with, it all the dust in its vicinity, not only on the surface bu,t in the deeply seated particles embedded in the carpets, curta,ins or upholstery j a bag arrangement then traps it, from which it may be emptied and burnt. A similar arrangement on a smaller scale, with the draught reversed enables the long) fair tresses of raven locks to be quickly dried after washing. Just think of the time saved in bathing the children.

Common Sense Cookery.—Electric cooking, however, presents the most striking instance of the use of electricity in the (home. It is indeed a Godsend to uplift the drudgery of domestic life. In the electric kitchen youl will find the cook happy and bright because this white coal is easier, safer and cleaner than any other method and the weight saved in cooking joints nearly pays for the electricity actually used, and it may be here stated that the Power Board is offering ffie very cheapest rates for cooking and water heating purposes. It' is. estimated that* a range which &EUI proyJde fa* **>ur or adults

will not cost more than £l2 per annum to run. Litjtle Comforts— Little appliances for the breakfast or tea table such as coffee makers, tea kettles, toasters, hot plates, even a little grill, and for the bedroom, shaving water heaters, curlingA tongs, bed warmers, hair dryers and so on, all mean much in comfort, while owing to the special properties of electric heating, the quantity of electricity used is so very small that the cost is insignificant. Truly the luxury of yesterday becomes the necessity of to-day. The telephone and motor car are other salient examples; whether we like it or not, whether it be really good for the individual or not, we are driven to use labour-saving devices so that one pair of hands can produce more than would be possible for it to do unaided. ~L ± ~ „ „ I The cost of electricity to the consumer in the Horowhenua Electric Power District is based on a carefully devised tariff and at an extremely low rate for such type of service. It will therefore, handsomely pay every householder in the district to employ ftlortrical appliances for every purpose lor which they arc available, thus ensuring that." these rates will bo maintained and the scheme mado to pay its way.