HILARIOUS RECEPTION

Evening Star, Issue 25926, 18 October 1946, Page 8

HILARIOUS RECEPTION

MINISTERIAL REPLY POWER BOARD HIGHLY AMUSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. “The.year’s biggest joke,” was the description applied by the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr J. N. Andrews, to a letter read at a meeting to-day of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board from the Minister of Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in answer to a suggestion by the' board that broadcasting hours should be reduced'to save electricity. One passage was received with: such mirth that the secretary had to -discontinue his' reading of the letter until the laughter, had subsided. . This particular passage stated:- ‘ The whole question of the use of radio broadcasting in relation to the power position has been under investigation for some time. There' may be some direct saving in power used by listeners if the hours of the shut-down were extended. but on the other Hand a valuable means of communicating quickly with consumers would be lost by the electricity controller.” ’ 1 ' The letter- went on to say that it did not necessarily, follow that any measurable saving in "power would . be made by clbsing down stations _ after 9.80 p.m., as suggested by the board, for listeners might then tune m to. overseas stations. For the last seven weeks consumption had not hadi to be limited, as much as during the winter months, but if it became essential, to introduce electricity rationing again the proposal to reduce broadcasting hours would be examined. . “ I move that the letter be received and referred to 1 Punch,’ ” said Mr Andrews, amid further laughter.