DRASTIC RATIONING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1938, Page 9

DRASTIC RATIONING

ELECTRIC POWER IN SOUTHLAND MINISTER CONCERNED AT SHORTAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL, April 19. Resumption of drastic rationing of electric power in Southland was found necessary again today with the resumption of business after the holidays. Rationing had been carried out in the country during the weekend but the city area had been exempt since Thursday night. Lights were bn in the business section of the city tonight and the tram service was maintained, but in the suburbs there were no lights from G p.m. to 7.30. It had been intended to keep lights oil till 9.30, but at 7.30 it was found possible to increase the city’s load. An appeal to residents to curtail the use of power as much as possible was made tonight by the city electrical engineer, Mr A. C. Corman. He particularly requested shopkeepers not to use power for window displays or for illuminating signs. Every effort is being made by the authorities to avoid inconvenience to industries and to farmers using electricity for milking cows. The position at Lake Monowai. where the water level has fallen following a prolonged dry spell, is reported to be much the same. Advice obtained from the meteorological office is to the effect that rain can probably be expected before the end of the month. A good fall of rain, enough to lift the lake level several inches, would be a great help, but sufficient to restore the lake to its normal level is really required. Concern at the serious shortage of electric power in Southland was expressed by the Minister of Public Works. Hon R. Semple, in a telephone interview this evening. He promised to take up the matter immediately with his departmental officers and sec what could be done to relieve the position. The department’!. he said, was hurrying as fast as possible with the connection between the Waitaki and Southland schemes and when that was completed there would be an ample supply of power available for Southland. The Minister expressed regret that consumers of electricity were experiencing inconvenience, but said his department had for some time been doing its best to improve the supply to the province.