More Trams May Run Next Friday

Evening Star, Issue 26136, 25 June 1947, Page 4

More Trams May Run Next Friday

It might be possible to give a fuller tram service on Friday so as to assist womenfolk with their shopping, as a result of the increased allocation of power to the city transport department made by the Priorities Committee at its meeting yesterday afternoon, the chairman of the Transport Committee, Or J. MeCrae, informed the 1 Star ’ to-day. It was not certain what decision would he made, but his commitee would meet td-day to consider how the extra power was to be used. EXTRA HOUR FOR WATER HEATING.

Water heating lor domestic purposes is now permitted between 10 p.m. and S a.nt. instead of between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. as previously, and the restriction oh the use of lighting in private residences between 11.30 p.m. and 5 a.m. has beeii lifted, the Priorities Committee deckled at its meeting. There has also been some easing of the restrictions which applied to retailers, shops being allowed to remain open until 9 p.m on Fridays, while the manufacturers and Industry are directed to obtain a saving of at least 20 per cent These decision followed advice from the electricity controller, Mr F. T. M. Kissell, that he required a saving of 20 per cent, in Dunedin’s consumption of electric power for tliis week. NO OUTSIDE LIGHTING. Restrictions on street lights remain, and they will continue to be switched off at 11 p.m., except on Sundays, when they will go out at 10 p.m., while the use of all outside Neon and other lighting for advertising or for any other purpose is prohibited at all times as before. < Retailers are also directed to observe the following restrictions: —No lighting or heating is permitted between 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Moiiday. There must be no under-verandah lighting ant] no exterior lighting of buildings at any time. The saving of interior lighting and heating is to continue as at present. Shop window lighting is permitted from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Monday to Thursday, and from 4.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, subject to such window lighting not exceeding 1 watt for every square foot of window floor area.

Savings in the electricity department’s area amounted to 27.57 per cent, on Monday, and 27.83 per cent, on Tuesday, so that the department already has something in hand for the remainder of the week. But, although the restrictions have been relaxed to some extent, the department considers it essential that all domestic consumers should continue to reduce consumption as much as possible if industry is to have any relief and the objectives still he obtained. _ , It is emphasised by the department that the relaxations have come about because Dunedin had made a satisfactory reduction in the previous weeks, and that the restrictions just annourieed anply to this week only. Moreover, they are subject to review at any time. RELIEF FOR INDUSTRY.

“ The reduction in the amount that industry will require to save will mako a tremendous difference to manufacturers in their attempt to maintain production at a high level,” the president of the Otago and Southland Manufacturers’ Association, Mr J. A. Scouler said to the. ‘ Star ’ this afternoon Some .of those industries which had closed down their machines for part of the week so as to use less power, would now be able to operate their plants for the whole period. With the aid of the auxiliary plants that had been installed they could still obtain the required saving. The general public meetings of consumers previously held at 11 a.m. on Mondays will be discontinued, the Priorities Committee has decided. The meetings .will not lie called again unless special circumstances warrant it.