POWER SUPPLY IN NORTH

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25134, 15 March 1947, Page 8

POWER SUPPLY IN NORTH

.Problem of Water Storage 50 PER CENT. CUT POSSIBLE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March' 14. At the present rate of consumption, the little water storage that remains in the North Island will be completely exhausted in 30 days, after which the supply of electric power will have to be cut by half. This is the present power supply situation, as described, this afternoon by the Mipister of Works (Mr R. Semple), who emphasised the gravity of the position. “This condition cannot be allowed to happen, and it is therefore essential that the load be reduced by at least 30 per cent, day and night, seven days a week,” he said. “That this situation would arise had been pointed out previously,” he said, “but to all appeals to economy, consumers have turned a deaf ear and so drastic measures have to be taken at once. Supply authorities had been directed to reduce the load, but they can.comply with this request only bycutting off power from whole sections of the community at a time. In this way much hardship is caused, and thefl essential use of power is prevented.” Failing a voluntary curtailment of power, more positive steps would have to be taken, said the Minister, and those steps were now under urgent consideration by the Government. In the meantime, he strongly urged every consumer to conserve power to the utmost extent.