URGENT APPEAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1943, Page 3

URGENT APPEAL

TO ALL USERS OF ELECTRIC POWER MADE BY THE MINISTER OF SUPPLY. STRICT EC'ONOMY ESSENTIAL (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. An appeal to everyone in the North Island to economise in the consumption of electric power to the greatest possible extent during the next two weeks was made last night by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan He said that examination of the machine which broke down at the Arapuni station revealed that it would take two or three weeks to repair the damage, and during that period it was absolutely essential for every consumer of electricity to do his or her utmost to save whatever power they possibly could. Considerable economy would be necessary to avoid the only possible alternative—the complete loss of power to certain districts in the North Island at some period during the coming few weeks.

“Every available generating machine in the North Island electrical system is operating at full capacity, particularly during the peak hours between 4 o'clock and 6 o'clock in the late afternoon,” said the Minister. "If it shotlld happen to be a wet, dull day the heavy load begins to grow earlier than 4 o’clock.”

The effect on industry, homes and other services of a stoppage of power was emphasised by Mr Sullivan. He said that all broadcasting stations were cut off yesterday for the critical halfhour between 5.15 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. The Minister said that there were certain factories engaged on most important munitions work which were working two or three shifts a day. It was obviously impossible for them to suspend production between 4 o'clock and 6 o'clock in the late afternoon. These factories on continuous production could only be kept going if other factories endeavoured as far as possible to adjust their working hours and their power demands so as to relieve the load in the peak period. “The greatest hurdle we have to face will probably arise on Friday evening when shops in many parts of the North Island will be keeping open for the late night,” said the Minister. “This will be a difficult period, particularly if it happens to be a wet and dull afternoon. I would therefore urge on the managers of every retail establishment and restaurant to plan their economy programme. It may be that they can operate with reduced lighting between 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock. It may be that they can close down for an hour. What we must try to do is to avoid a widespread breakdown in the critical period between 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock.

“I wish to make an urgent appeal to every person in the North Island who is a consumer of electricity to co-oper-ate with the Government and with the Public Works Department, the Ministry of Supply and the Power Boards, to save every possible unit of electricity. There is no time to lose. The officials of the electrical section of the Public Works Department are struggling with the task of avoiding complete breakdown. and the dangers, loss and inconvenience that would follow such a breakdown. The last thing that anyone wishes to do is to cut off the electricity from any district because of what it would mean to that district, but far better, of course, that some districts should be cut off than that all should suffer.. From now till further notice, consumers should cut off everything they possibly can to avoid the alternatives of collapse, or compulsory cutting off presented to us.”