LIGHTING REGULATIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1917, Page 8

LIGHTING REGULATIONS

The regulations gazetted this week for the purpose of limiting the consumption of light and power, and thus conserving coa.l supplies, were referred to by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) in. an interview / with a Post reporter to-day. The Mayor stated that he was entirely in accord with the desire of the Government to give effect to the recommendations of the National Efficiency Board. It was patent to everyone that any savings that could be brought about now would be equal to money earned at a later, period, when, no doubt, the financial strain would become greater The conservation of the wealth of the community' should be considered as more important than the individual point of view. A man did not need to be a pessimist to recognise the need for economy in services which could be adequately carried out, and could meet the needs of the community on a more conservative estimate, than at present if the community was prepared to make sacrifices. The regulations as set forth by the.Government gave tho City Council power to exercise authority in this matter, and also overcame the difficulty, which had previously obtained, by empowering other suppliors of light and powor, whether coporate bodies or companies, to impose similar limitations on their companies if they thought fit to do so in the interests of national efficiency. Thus all parties were placed in the position of. being able to meet their/ responsibilities both as regards "what was desirable from the public point of. view and' for the purpose of ensuring economy. The Mayor recalled that the report of the City .Engineer and Tramways Manager , on this question 'was 1 before the council two meetings back, and action was deferred. He would bring the matter before the meetings of the Finance and Tramways Committee on Monday next, with a view to making a definite recommendation to" the council on Thursday. . The public 'might, be confident that, if -the' council decided-to'ex-ercise its powers, it would not do so in any arbitrary manner. .