N.S.W. POWER SUPPLIES

Evening Star, Issue 25678, 29 December 1945, Page 4

N.S.W. POWER SUPPLIES

LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS LIKELY EARLY IN JANUARY (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Dec. 28. The gas and electricity supply authorities are now confident that it will be possible to lift, all restrictions in New South Wales on January 7, providing ' the public continues the cooperation it has so far given. Consumption during the unrationed period from 7 p.m. on Monday to midnight on Wednesday was low and the restrictions will be lifted again from 7 p.m. on.'New Year's Eve tantil midnight on New Year's Day. The Minister of Local Government, Mr J. J. Cahill. expressing gratitude for the public's co-operation in saving power, said that the State Government plans to abolish rationing on January 7, when the coal miners will resume work after the Christmas holidays. In the meantime, nearly 500,000 people remain idle because of the prohibition on the use of power by industry,and commerce. No tramswill run in Sydney and Newcastle again next week-end for the third time. The Ironworkers' Union has not yet taken any steps to direct its members on strike at Port Kembla and Newcastle to return to work. An application by the Ironworkers' Federation for re-registration will be heard next week (Broken Hill Proprietary refused to deal with the de-registered Ironworkers' Union during the strike). The suspension of D. Parker from the Port Kembla Steelworks, which precipitated the strike, is still being considered by the Industrial Commission. Unionists have handled " black ' coal at the Newcastle steelworks of Broken Hill Proprietary and. they did this work without protest. Coal from the stocks placed at the steelworks at the direction of the Commonwealth Coal Commissioner, Mr N. Mighell. has been hauled to be used by the New South Wales railways during the hohdav period. Victoria and South Australia are struggling along with meagre stocks of coal and substitute fuels. Stocks at the South Australian Gas Companv's works were almost exhausted when a collier reached Adelaide yesterdav with coal from Newcastle. Gas, electricity, and transport restrictions are being maintained m Victoria and South Australia, although these are not as severe as those m New South Wales. ____