ELECTRICITY SAVING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25206, 10 June 1947, Page 3

ELECTRICITY SAVING

Sir, —May I suggest one or two ways in which the inconvenience and even danger caused by the sudden cutting off of light at 4 p.m. could be diminished? (1) The light might be switched off twice for one second, with an interval of three seconds between the times, one minute before 4 o’clock: and/or (2) a siren might be sounded at the same time.—Yours etc., H. M. IRVING. June 9, 1947.

Sir, —Even if you are unajfle to supply electricity, please keep publishing letters about the shortage. lam enjoying every one; in fact, I would rather read them than listen to the radio. I would like your correspondents to take stock, and ask themselves the question: “How many times during May could I have turned off a switch, and- didn’t?” Now, let them be honest. After all, they must all admit that they were asked some considerable time ago to conserve power; and, now that they are forced to, well, they moan. As far as I am concerned, I have "my coal range, Aladdin lamps, and flat irons, and they will still be going (as they have for years) when the moaners are in the dark. Cheer up! The nights will soon be getting shorter.—Yours, etc., COUNTRY BUMPKIN. June 9, 1947.

Sir, —I feel Mr Hay should know that at least one listener took his appeal to heart. My son, who is not yet five and fears the dark said: “I will go wifout my hall light. I just won’t wake up in the dark and if I do and get frightened I’ll call ‘Jesus, Jesus.’ ” —Yours, etc., T M.A. June 9, 1947.

Sir, —I would suggest that the Municipal Electricity Department institute a methodical tour of tne residential sections armed with a supply of lowpowered bulbs and offer them to residents at cost prices—or even less if necessary—to replace the more highlypowered bulbs which may be more or less in general use. I am confident the public would support such a scheme, especially as in most eases residents are vitally interested in the various forms of industry. Rdbriminations as to who is to blame for our calamity will get us nowhere; that will assuredly be fully' dealt with later. The position is now that we must face realities and do what we can to relieve the dire emergency which exists. —Yours, etc., NEW ZEALANDER. June 9, 1947.

Sir, —In the Municipal' Electricity Department supplv district many consumers have the charge for water heating in their homes based upon a flat rate of “so much” a week. In asking consumers completely to cut off these heaters for three days and for an additional eight hours spread over the other four days it will be a matter of interest to know how the M.E.D. proposes to adjust the weekly charge for such service. It is surely not intended to continue the full weekly charge for the partial service. As this is a matter of public interest affecting many consumers, this inquiry is addressed to you rather ’than to the M.E.D. direct. — Yours, etcl, BLACK-OUT 808. June 5, 1947. [The general manager of the M.E.D. (Mr E. Hitchcock) commented: “There will doubtless be many details of this kind to attend to (and they will be attended to), but at the moment more pressing matters claim attention.”]