POWER PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 11

POWER PROBLEM.

SHORTAGE IN CANTERBURY.

NO EARLY DAYLIGHT SAVING.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER,

(By Telegrap'a.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

A statement with reference to the suggestion to introduce daylight saving in Canterbury earlier than usual in order to conserve the electric power supply, in view of the position at Lake Coleridge, was made by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Tavenler, in the House of Representatives this evening. ■•_,/

Mr. Tavern er eaid that when a snortage of power occurred in the' Auckland area in June he submitted proposals to Cabinet recommending the immediate introduction of daylight saving, "and indicated the saving of power that could be made. The proposal, however, was not favoured by Cabinet, on the ground that.it would have been necessary to make it apply to the whole'of the North Island, whereas the area affected' was relatively small.

In regard to the suggestion for Canterbury, the Minister said that with the lengthening of the days as the season advanced the benefit to bo derived from daylight .saving was, constantly diminishing, arid ho had-been advised that a saving of only'looo'kilowatts in the present load was all that could be looked for in the city' of, Christchurch. It was quite possible that this saving in* the peak load woulr. only result in an increased consumption of units, and consequently of water iu* the lake, at some other hours of the day.

Concerning the shortage of power in Christchurch city, said Mr. Taverner, investigations were proceeding, and he hoped it would be possible, to increase the power available in some' measure at an early date. He gave the House a definite assurance that the Department would take steps to increase the generation of power to a satisfactory limit next winter.