THREAT OF POWER SHORTAGE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23316, 30 April 1941, Page 8

THREAT OF POWER SHORTAGE

FORM OF RATIONING POSSIBLE SUPPLY PROBLEM DISCUSSED The possibility of a form of rationing of electricity being introduced in June and July was mentioned by Mr M. E. Lyons, a member of the electricity committee of the Christchurch City Council, in an address at New Brighton last night. Nothing drastic would be done, he said. "In the winter months of June and July we will be hard put to meet the demand for electricity, and it may be necessary for the Government to do something akin to rationing," Mr Lyons said. "The department is doing everything to anticipate it; but I do not think that anything done will be drastic. In view of the unfortunate occurrence at Lake Coleridge some time ago, there is n possiDility of electricity being short." Although the last contract between the Municipal Electricity Department and the Public Works Department for the supply of bulk power represented a fairly substantial rise in price, there was no chance that prices to consumr ers would have to be raised, Mr Lyons said. He was looking forward to the day when, instead, savings would be made. The cost of electricity in Christchurch was, however, very low and compared more, than favourably with the charges in other centres in New Zealand.