POWER CUTS IN FACTORIES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27614, 22 March 1955, Page 12

POWER CUTS IN FACTORIES

Stoppage Of Wages Suggested MANUFACTURERS’ DISCUSSION If workers in factories ’ . ere laid off this winter because of power shortages the workers should not be paid wages for the lost time. This suggestion was made at a meeting last evening of the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association by Mr R- H. Stewart. This would be the best incentive to save power in the home, he claimed. The factory worker at the moment had no real incentive to save power, but if he knew that he would get no wages for working time missed he would be very careful to see that his wife turned off the water heater each Stewart, who said it was “time we got vocal on the power situation.” moved the following motion; “In view of the extremely serious power position recurring without relief year by year, this association, representing industry in Canterbury, requests an early authoritative statement on the power potential of the North Canterbury rivers.” Mr Stewart moved this motion after the council had received a letter from the M.E.D. The letter, which was signed by the engineer-manager (Mr J. C. Forsyth), pointed out that the consumpution within the department's area had for some time been appreciably above the allocation. “The electricity committee has therefore instructed me to request your association to call upon its members to take steps immediately to reduce their consumption of electricity by approximately 10 per cent. The committee has also instructed me to say that if the required result is not achieved in the immediate future it will be reluctantly forced to adopt the restrictions which were in operation during the latter part of last year.” Mr Stewart’s motion was referred to the association's power and fuel committee. Recompense for Standby Plants The council had earlier received a letter from the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce promising the chambers support in its efforts to obtain some recompense for firms which operated standby plants at periods of peak power demand. “We have been approached by one of our member firms which maintains heavy diesel power generating equipment for emergency use,” said the chamber’s letter. “They point out that in past winters they have run these plants as much as possible at the request of the M.E.D. to assist the overall position, and they are alarmed that the forthcoming winter will present a further severe supply problem. “They raise again the question of some approach with a view to obtaining some form of rebate or subsidy on the cost of local power generation which, of course, is variously estimated at approximately twice or three times the cost of ordinary power supply.

“Our electricity emergency committee has considered this matter, and we understand that although your association has examined this question thoroughly in the past it has not made very much 'progress. It may be that in view of the situation in the coming vzinter you will be taking this up again, and I am directed to offer your association this chamber’s assistance in reooening the matter.” “I am of the opinion that the MJEJD. has some obligation to supply its consumers,” said Mr T. L. Uren. The New South Wales supply authority had shown a more sympathetic attitude and he thought the New South Wales precedent might be quoted to the MED.

One company in Christchurch, according to his information, was feeding power into the mains at peak periods, said Mr C. S. Peate. This company was being reimbursed, “or even making a small profit.” If it could be ascertained how many k.v.a. was available from firms’ standby plants the M.E.D. would be able to assess the potential addition to the M.E.D.’s supply, said Mr F. S. Taylor. Mr Stewart said it was unfair that a firm which saved jiower during peak periods by using standby plants should still be charged for electricity at the peak remand rate. After further discussion, this letter was also referred to the association’s power and fuel committee.