GOOD RESPONSE BY CITIZENS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25207, 11 June 1947, Page 6

GOOD RESPONSE BY CITIZENS

VOLUNTARY SAVING OF POWER CITY AND RICCARTON KEEP TO ALLOCATIONS “The people of Christchurch have done very well,” said the chairman of the Christchurch City Council’s electricity committee (Cr. F. S. Wilding) last evening when referring to the response to the appeal for voluntary economies. “I think they will do 1 better as they become used to the need for saving power.” Cr. Wilding said the results so far suggested that on the new schedule of restrictions Christchurch would again keep to its allocation this week. The Riccarton borough also kept to its allocation last week. The borough electrical engineer (Mr F. Sarjeant) said last evening that residents’ efforts to save power had been very successful. The borough should do as well this week on the reduced allocation. Mr Sarjeant said it was noticeable that, during the half hour interval in the area shut-downs, residents were apparently obeying the direction not to use too much power. Most seemed to be using the half-hour for the purpose for which it was intended, the boiling of a kettle. The greatest load was nine minutes after the power was switched on, and, by the time the power went off again at 6.30, the load was practically accounted for by lighting. Mr Sarjeant said each district of the borough would have only one of the long afternoon and evening cuts a week. There would in addition be one or two generar afternoon cuts during the week-end.