Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1943. THE POWER SHORTAGE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1943. THE POWER SHORTAGE.

AX electric power supply position which was already rather critical has been made much more so by the breakdown of one of the big generating units at Arapuni and it now seems likely that a week or two may elapse before a return can be made to the conditions of power supply that were recently normal. It is unfortunate that this has happened in winter and that the consequences fall upon a community which has been taught to depend in a high degree upon electric power in homes and in factories and working establishments of all kinds, but no time need be spent in useless repining.

From -what the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) had to say on the subject last evening, it seems possible that the need for instituting drastic economies, by cutting off the power supply entirely from some districts for periods and at intervals, may be averted if consumers of power in homes, factories and elsewhere will voluntarily make as sparing use as is practicable, of electric appliances of all kinds.

What this means in the Wairarapa is indicated in an appeal by the district Power Board in which it asks all consumers, during the emergency period (which the Minister of Supply has indicated may extend over two weeks) to practise voluntary economies by using all light and appliances as little as possible, but especially between 10 a.in. and noon and between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. People are asked also, where they have an ordinary fireplace’ not to use a radiator, where they have a fuel range not to use an electric range, and to switch off water heaters and radio sets between stated hours.

Compliance with these requests may entail a good deal of inconvenience and some hardship, but it should be noted that the alternative may be to invite much more serious hardship's on account of an interrupted supply. It is clear that limits must be placed in one way or another, on the use of electric power until repairs have been effected at Arapuni.

An opportunity is offered to the people of all the districts concerned to exhibit a worthy comminunity spirit. It would perhaps be reasonable to suggest that districts which voluntarily institute heavy economies should be exempted from the penalty of having their supply of light and power discontinued periodically. Whether that is or is not practicable, however, all consumers evidently should be very willing to respond to the appeal of the national and district supply authorities.