SERIOUS EFFECT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 9

SERIOUS EFFECT.

PETROL RESTRICTION. POWER BOARD CONCERNED. The attitude that restriction in petrol consumption would seriously impair the efficiency of the supply of electric power in Auckland was adopted by the Auckland Electric Power Board at a meeting yesterday afternoon, and the board authorised Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager, to stress this point when he places the position before the oil fuel controller in Wellington this week. The chairman, Mr. S. J. Harbutt, said that the board, in common with other local authorities, had been requested to effect a substantial cut in the petrol consumed. The matter had been carefully considered by the staff, but it was found that there Was only one way iu which a saving could be effected without serious results. This was by patrollmg street lights fortnightly instead of weekly.The actual saving, representing 13,000 truck miles, Was only 800 gallons, and it was thought that the inconvenience would not fie great, said Mr. Harbutt. It meant that where street lights failed they would be replaoed once a fortnight instead of weekly as at present, and if the position was placed before the affected local bodies he felt they would not protest.

Apart from this, it should be stressed that an electrical undertaking had. to be 100 per cent efficient, as any breakdown duo to inadequate servicing or other cause would affect the entire Community.

Mr. C. J. Lovegrove: The Government apparently takes it for granted that local authorities are being operated inefficiently, and I am pleased to Bee that the Power Board cannot effect further savings. If a local body said it could save a third of its petrol consumption I would say it was an open confession of inefficiency. The Chairman: That is not quite correct. A local body may be able to cut out some of. ite activities or defer them until a later date. Other members agreed that the consequences of a cut in petrol supplies for the board would be Serious.