The Press TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1954. New Power Guts

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27472, 5 October 1954, Page 12

The Press TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1954. New Power Guts

Power cuts and restrictions are obviously easier to bear at this time of the year than in the middle of winter; and the South Island will not be greatly dismayed by the reduction of allocations by a further Per cent. The public, however, would be most unwise to under-rate the seriousness of the present position and its possibilities. Officials of the State Hydro-electric Department have warned that in some j years the anxiously-awaited thaw has been as late as December. ■There is no sign of it yet, and no sign of the westerly depressions that have come to the aid of water ; storage in other years of scarcity. ; And although it has turned out that tn e island does not necessarily plunge into disaster once storage has fallen below 32,000,000 units (the currency given to this belief, however explained, is one of the most unfortunate errors of public relations on record) there must be a point beyond which storage cannot fall without serious interruption of the general power supply. Clearly it is prudent to keep a margin above that point. The new cut in allocations is no doubt designed to prevent any further run-down of storage and to hold this margin of safety, which is slim enough considering the everpresent possibility of plant breakdowns.

The margin will not be held unless consumption is reduced and brought within the allocation; and the response of the public to this second demand for economy must be more prompt than its response to the first. Indeed, but for the gross failure of consumers and supply authorities to keep within the quotas fixed in July, this second reduction would have been unnecessary—at least at this stage. The consequences of again failing to bring consumption quickly down to the required level might now be more serious. Any further cut in allocations could hardly fail to affect industry, which would mean reduced production and lower earnings for employers and workers alike. The increased area cuts announced by local authorities such as the Christchurch City Council may not make sufficient savings by themselves. The public must still I do their part by observing conscientiously the restrictions on the use of j water-heaters and other appliances I and by making such voluntary ■ savings as they can. The need for i this discipline may not persist much longer; but while it lasts it is I imperative.