HELP FOR NORTH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 191, 27 May 1946, Page 4

HELP FOR NORTH

SOUTH ISLAND RADIO SHUT DOWN LOSS TO POWER BOARD The shutting-down of the radio stations for two hours daily involves: the Ashburton Electric Power Board in an annual loss of between £7OO and £BOO, so members were informed’ at the annual meeting to-day, when the subject was freely debated. “We have plenty of. power in the South Island,” pointed out Mr H. J. Crothers, who initiated the discussion, “so is; it really necessary to cut the radios off for two hours daily?” “We must do it iso that power is saved for the North Island,” replied the chairman, Mr E. F. Nicoll. “Can’t, we do something about it? Why shut them off in the South Island?” asked Mr Crothers, “We suffer as the result of the North Island shortage,” commented the chairman. “If we did not cut the radios off in. the south, people in the north would simply switch over to our stations: and so there would be no saving in power.” “It means a serious loss of revenue to us,” said Mr Crothers. He pointed out that there were 2635 radios, linked up. At two hours daily, it meant 14 hours of a closed down period weekly, and a total loss of about 1,918,280 hours annually. The engineer-secretary, Mr H. G. Kemp, mentioned that the annual loss to the board was be'tween £7OO and £BOO.

“Some people even leave their radios on when no programmes are being transmitted,” stated the chairman. “Anyway I am afraid we cannot do anything about the matter.” The board then passed on to other subjects.