GAS HOLIDAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 107, 7 May 1943, Page 4

GAS HOLIDAY

APPEAL TO PUBLIC WEEK-END ECONOMIES The gas position has deteriorated to an extent that has compelled the Auckland Gas Company to appeal to all industrial users of gas to declare to-morrow a gas holiday. The company is also appealing to all domestic users to make a special effort to-morrow and on Sunday to reduce consumption to the irreducible minimum. These economies are being asked for to enable a reserve to be built up in the gas holders by Monday morning to ensure normal supplies for next week. "We are making a determined effort over the week-end to build up stocks of gas so that the usual'supplies will be available throughout next week and possibly until the company's new plant is m operation," said Mr. Rupert Wo r ley, manager of the company, this afternoon. "This step is not being taken without full consideration, and 1 believe it will be in the subsequent interests of all if the present appeal is successful. "All industrial users have been asked to declare a gas holiday to-morrow, and all residential consumers are being asked to help bj refraining from using their gas appliances to-morrow, and on bun day except for supplying the barest necessities. "Where people have means of cooking other than by the use of gas it would greatly assist if they would put them into operation not only for themselves but for then neighbours who are not so fortunately situated."

Quantities Used Mr Worley explained that industry consumed close on 1,000,000 cubic feet of gas a day, a large portion of the supplv being required for industries directly connected with the war effort such as canning, biscuit-mak-ing. and the manufacture of ammunition and uniforms. All these industries work on Saturdays, genei - ally for eight hours, the number of hands employed being about 10,000. "The supply to residential gas consumers is far greater, he continued "Thev require . something nearer the 3,000,000 cubic feet mark dailv If we can save, say, 700,00U cubic feet on Saturday by industries refraining from using gas and 1 000 000 feet by the public cutting down by one-half their usual quantity on Saturday and Sunday the com■nanv will be-in a much moie satis factory position on Monday morning. We will then be able to meet requirements for some time ahead. Oui holders will not be full but the future would be assured for next week and possibly until the new plant comes into production." Referring to the labour position, Mr. Worley said there wasstilla keen shortage of engmeei fitteis foi thl erection of the company's new plant There was also a shortage of suitable men for shovelling coal into the retorts. Repeated appeals had been made to the Minister of Industrial Manpower to supply the company with fit men for stoking, and were in short supply, end some oUhe men at present employed were working 80. hours a week. r .