ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24093, 1 November 1943, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY

MANUFACTURERS’ ! CONCERN “In their endeavours to have thehf plants working to the limit of capacity. in meeting essential /production requirements, New Zealand manufacturers ate dependent upon the newer supply. This gives them one of their most difficult problems, and they have become greatly perturbed at the inadequacy of the supply of electric power throughout New Zealand, said Mr D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, discussing the power supply was taken at the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation conference in Napier, to discuss the. situation with a view to making strong representations to the appropriate authorities. An outline was •given by Mr A. M. Hollander, of Canterbury, of the various recommendations of the power supply authorities, and emphasis was laid on the revelations made in the zone reports which had been compiled after a most comprehensive investigation into tne power shortage position. It was contended by Mr Hollander that toe power shortage was not attributable solely to war conditions. Failure to see a possible shortage was in no small way a cause of the serious situation which had developed, and the effect of which was felt not only by those in industry but by the country as a whole. “There is the evidence of experts,” said Mr Macdonald, “that cheap power • is available in New Zealand, and in view of the extent to which future production depends upon power supply the manufacturers are naturally interested in any,means by which adequate power can be ensured. That does not apply only in the case of present needs. The longer view, with the progress of industrial development, must also be taken, with special consideration for the expansion which will come about through decentralisation, which is the Government policy and is supported by the federation. It was all-important too, that power supply should be made as cheap as possible. These and other matters received special attention in the discussions which took place at the Nanier conference.”

U-Boats Leave Mediterranean.—German submarines are leaving the Mediterranean for “safer” operational waters, -says a Berlin newspaper, which adds: “It is well known that the, Mediterranean is a particularly difficult area of operations for U-boats. .The proximity - of Allied .bases, .especially air .bases, brings the U-boats into almost constant contact with the enemy* —Ldndon. October-29.;- - ••• ■: _