LONGER HOURS FOR DOMESTIC WATER HEATING

Evening Star, Issue 26153, 15 July 1947, Page 6

LONGER HOURS FOR DOMESTIC WATER HEATING

Domestic water heaters may be used, between the hours of 10 p.m.

and 7 a.m., and from 2;30 p.m. to 4.30' p.m. for> this week, it was .decided by the Electricity Priorities 'Sub-committee, at its meeting yesterday, The previous hours were between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., but the committee; found it possible to vary them and to extend certain concessions to manufacturers and .shopkeepers as well because of the surplus power saving recorded in Dunedin last week.

Therfequired saying for this week jvill remain at 20 per cent., and tho electricity authorities point out that the new Arrangements are only for a .trial. -

SHOP WINDOW LIGHTING. Shopkeepers are allowed to use nor' Dial shop window lighting between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday only, shop rwindow, lighting being. prohibited entirely from Monday to Thursday, but they must make an over-all saving'of 20 per. cent, for the week. The Otago Retailers’ Association has advised its members that the following restrictions .will apply as from July 15: — • No : - lighting or heating permitted between 9 p.m., Friday, and 9 a.m., Monday. No/under-verandah.lighting, exterior lighting of buildings, ior outside Neon signs permitted. The saving of interior lighting and heating to continue ds at present., "v Shops to close at 9 p.m., Fridays. < ; . INDUSTRIAL SAVINGS. - The, /Otago and Southland Manufacturers’ Association has been asked by the'committee to. ensure that , industry as a whole makes, economies to the extent of 20 per cent. Ti;e over-all power saving made by industry, last week was 32 per cent., the secretary of the association, Mr F. JL. Hitchens,' told the ‘Star’ to-day. He said that it would nojv be possible to afford some relief to those manufacturers who were ■ most • affected by the restrictions by asking those who could do so to continue; to save at the same rate as before. Many firms have found for the first time' that they could make economies in the .use of their machinery, and have completely readjusted their 'funning costa for electricity,” Mr' Hitchens said, when explaining, why the association was confident that industry would continue to obtain the required power saving.’ “ These economies will be permanent,” Mr Hitchens said, “ and the firms would not revert to their previous consumption, even if the. . restrictions were lifted; The restrictions have been a-blessing in disguise to them.” RECREATION GROUNDS. /The > Priorities Sub-committee . decided, /at’ its, meeting, to permit the lighting of riecreation grounds for one hour a week, because the amount of power used in- this way was small, and would not amount to more than was required/for a one-bar radiator during a period-of 12 hours. ~ • LAKE LEVELS RECOVER. The / level ‘of / Lake Mahinerangi ; re-. mained/stationary at 66ft:8in this mprrri ing. On June .7,. a week after the. power restrictions, began; the dam stood at a height of 58ft 10}in. Substantial rises have also .been recorded in the levels. of 'North Island lakes since the restrictions were introduced there on Mareh 21. On that day Lake Taupo stood at 1.173.45 ft. but has recovered to a level-of 1,776;25ft, while_Lake Waikaremoana has risen to 2,005;35ft from 1,995.5 ft. '■ ' > ", Dunedin’s power saving yesterday was 25.17 per cent. -