POWER CUTS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27426, 12 August 1954, Page 7

POWER CUTS

Sir,—l am indebted to you for your informative report on the discussion by the City Council on power cuts. I congratulate Cr. T. H. McCombs upon his businesslike statement of the financial motives “behind the scenes,” and his well-reasoned resistance to any pimping and “police state” methods by inspectors.—Yours, etc., SOLICITOR. August 11, 1954.

Sir, —One wonders why the street lights are all burning brightly these moonlight nights. Is it because the amount of power saved is not worth the attention involved in cutting them out? Or is it that the electricity committee has overlooked the moon?— Yours, etc., IN THE DARK. August 11, 1954,

Sir,-—ln the present serious power shortage, which is evidently more dangerous than in the last few years, I .note with curiosity that the street lighting has not been cut after midnight, as has been done at this time in past years. An advertisement in “The Press” this morning states that every unit saved retains 812 gallons of water in the lake. The suburban street lighting must represent a considerable number of gallons. Perhaps there is a good reason for not curtailing the street lighting, but, with the moon at full just now, it seems a good opportunity for some saving in storage.— Yours, etc., W.H.C. August 11, 1954.

Sir, —The electricity committee at long last complains, too late, but only when it considers it has been hit by the Government. True, but have the committee and other power supply authorities with it paused to realise that the consumers are suffering oppression. The Government almost absolutely possesses the monopoly of the production of electric power; the supply authorities are virtually the consumers and should be standing with the consumers and applying pressure on the Government to use means of filling the gap as the Government ad vocated when in opposition. The electricity committee blames the consumers, but what about extinguishing the streets lights earlier in the mornings, 6.45 a.m. is not too early; 7.1 C a.m. is daylight. Admittedly, the need to save jjpwer exists, but let the Municipal Electricity Department give adequate encouragement to the oppressed consumer.—Yours,’ etc., ’ FAIR PLAY. August 10, 1954.