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Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 8

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ELECTRIC SUPPLY PLEA FOR ECONOMY " My duties include the control of the supply of electricity, and it is my responsibility to ensure that, as far as possible and despite war conditions, a supply of electricity is in the houses, factories and the farms," said the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in a statement on his arrival in Auckland to-day. "In recent years the demand for electrical power for lighting, heating, the running of machinery and the operating of domestic household appliances, has increased enormously," he said. "The Government has kept pace with the rapidly increasing demand for electrical equipment by creating additional power generating plants. Now, however, due to war conditions, we have been unable to obtain all the electrical generating machinery we require to meet a steadily increasing demand, despite the fact that overseas factories are straining every nerve to produce these in addition to munitions and equipment for the war effort. Consequently, the Government hydro-generating plants in the North Island are heavily overloaded. The big plants at Arapuni, Waikaremoana, Mangahao and Hora Hora are all turning out as many units as they can. With the co-operation of the local bodies, all other plants in the North Island are also generating as much electricity as they can and feeding it into the general North Island system.

"In particular, the big steam plants at Auckland and Wellington are generating millions of units each week. These two plants require a large quantity of coal each day. The Auckland steam plant alone uses as much as 500 tons in one day. Mining Industry "The mining industry, both workers and owners, are doing all they can to make the large quantity of coal required available. The railways and shipping companies are putting their best foot forward to get this coal to the plants. Despite all their efforts, however, a sufficient supply of coal may not be available without causing a shortage of coal for homes and factories. "All the generating machinery is overloaded and there is nothing in reserve. Despite all the care and maintenance which is given to these big generating units, one of them may perhaps break down." The Minister said that if a dry spell was not experienced, reducing the volume of water required for generation purposes, and if all the coal required could be obtained and there was no breakdown in machinery, it might be possible to avoid any: restrictions, but there were too many "ifs" in the position to feel safe about giving a full supply of electricity from now on. "I am advised that the present demand for electricity is about 10 per cent greater than it was last year," he continued. "If it were only four per cent greater than last year then the position would be much safer. Rationing Discussed

"If, instead of placing restrictions on the use of electricity, everyone using it reduced their electricity consumption by only five per cent, then there would be every prospect of not having to ration the supply "I therefore appeal to all consumers to co-operate with one another, and with all those who are striving to give them a supply of electricity, to economise in the use of it as much as they possibly can."