AUCKLAND'S POWER FAMINE

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 9

AUCKLAND'S POWER FAMINE

MAYOR SUGGESTS RATIONING PENAL RATE FOR OVER-USE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 16. A statement that steps should be taken immediately to meet the grave shortage of electricity that could be expected in the coming winter and that the best- thing that could be done- would be to ration, all consumers, was made . to-day by the mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum. The position had to be faced, he said, that there was going to be a shortage of electric power for some time, and it appeared that the only thing people do was to make the best of it. " The important thing is for the authorities to make such arrangements as will enable the people to earn their livelihood and at the same time ensure a minimum of inconvenience in the home," said Mr Allum. Every consumer could be allowed an allocation of electricity at the usual rate, and when that was exceeded a penal charge of, say, Is a unit could be made for extra consumption. A threat of disconnecting persistently exorbitant users from the supply source could also accompany the penalty. This rationing system would keep the people within bounds, and they would know where they stood and could malke their own arrangements within the limits of the power available to them. If it were considered desirable, the extra revenue received from the penalties could be given to 6ome charitable institution. " Until some organised basis is decided upon, the present excesses of consumption will continue," said Mr Allum. " The system of rationing J have suggested for electricity could also be applied to gas if necessary during the winter." When the mayor's statement was referred to the general manager of the Auckland Electric Power Board, Mr It. H. Bartley, he said that personally he was not in favour of penal rates. Not only would they raise the number of accounting difficulties, but they would play into the hands of those who could afford to pay the extra at the cost of those who could not. GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE UNNECESSARY. ''l am "not prepared to interfere with the arrangements that the Auckland Electric Power Board considers necessary," said the Minister of Works (Mr Semple) in a telegram forwarded to-day to Mr W. E. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland Employers' Association, replying to appeals on the subject of power restrictions which ivere made to the Prime Minister (Mr Eraser), to come to Auckland to discuss the situation.' Mr Semple stated in his telegram that be understood the Power Board had been successful during the- past week in keeping down its allocation so that possibly the reductions this week might not have to be so drastic. In view of this and of other commitments, he did not consider that any good purpose could be served by visiting "Auckland for a ipersonal discussion. "'The position is that it is absolutely essential that power must be conserved." said the Minister. " The storage in the lakes has been drawn down, so that Tauno is now 4ft 9in and Waikaremoana lift below the control and overflow levels. In view of the heavy winter.-loading ahead, the very limited remaiiiinxr storage must' be ritrorously controlled, otherwise, with storage utterly exhausted, the load would have to be drastically reduced."