FUEL SAVING

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 8

FUEL SAVING

TO TUB EDITOR. , Sir,—Aneht thp shortage; of electricity, coal, and gas, may 1 suggest that at; least a partial remedy therefore might be, found in the. use of pressure .cookers, which are jnerely pots.. thsit .cook under pressure’ by steam generated through the usual external-appli-cation of heat. To indicate the saving of time and fuel, I mention the time taken to , cook some foods:—Cabbage one and a-half minutes, cauliflower two to three minutes, carrots two to three minutes, and-stew 12 to 15 minutes. In general, it takes one-third to. onequarter of the time of the usual methods. ■■ ■ , . . ..

Now, I understand that more, than half of the electricity consumed is used for domestic purposes. It-is;clear that by the use of theSe cookers there would be a. large saving .of electric current as well as coal. Moreover, food cooked by this method is much more palatable, has more vitamins, and is more evenly cooked. Another saving of fuel is obtained through the fact that when a meal is cooked in this way it stays hot for a long time without a further application of heat; and, of course, it saves the housewife work..

Although these cookers are a novelty here, I believe that in America, and to a lesser degree in Australia, they are coming into general use as quickly , as they can be manufactured. Two friends of mine in Dunedin possess them,- and have nothing but praise for them. The retail cost in United - States is 15dol, so that without Customs charges they could be landed here for not a great deal more than £5.

I suggest, that the Government shoiild at once arrange for the importation and distribution of a large number. As this form of cooking is evidently the one that will be used in future, instead of waiting until the cookers arrive in the course of a year or so why not import them now, so .that they can assist our economy- in the present fuel crisis?— I am, etc., Practical Politics. May 2. . ■ ■ , ; : [Many readers who agree with our correspondent would like to know how they * could import pressure cookers under the present import restrictions, or even under, trade restrictions as they affect the: individuals.—Ed., E.SO