CHRISTCHURCH POWER

Evening Star, Issue 26087, 29 April 1947, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH POWER

NO IMPROVEMENT IN WATER SUPPLY FURTHER RESTRICTIONS LIKELY (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 28. With no improvement in the water supply position in the lakes feeding the AVaitaki and Coleridge power stations, the prospect of electricity restrictions in Christchurch this winter draws nearer. AVhile steps have already been taken to check the normal winter increase in the load the impression was formed from inquiries made to-day that more severe restrictions were likely to be imposed. Up to the present the Municipal Electricity Department has confined its efforts to reduce the load to cutting out the street lights after 1 a.m., anp refusing permits for electric radiators except in cases where substantial hardship would result or where, there is no alternative means of heating. The radiator ban has been imposed impartially, among the refusals in a batch of applications dealt with recently being several from Government departments.

“ Unfortunately,” said the general manager of the Municipal Electricity Department, Mr E. Hitchcock, “ there is a certain amount of black marketing going on in radiators. They are being sold by some retailers and often the purchaser does not know that he is breaking the law by buying without a permit. This sort of thing is destroying the intention of the order—to inflict as little hardship as possible to the advantage of all. If heater sales were uncontrolled the load would grow to impossible bounds and all would suffer.”