STILL CRITICAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1947, Page 7

STILL CRITICAL

DANGERS STRESSED CABINET MAKES SWEEPING DECISIONS PENALTIES FOR BREACHES (Rec. 11.40 a.m). LONDON, Feb. 12. A statement from No. 10 Downing Street announced a number of sweeping new decisions, including a fine or imprisonment for any infringement of the na-tion-wide restrictions on the use of electricity for domestic purposes. Reuter’s understands the penalties may range up to a fine of £ 100 or three months’ imprisonment, but the maximum may possibly be double these penalties. The new decisions came from the first meeting of the special emergency committee, which the Prime Minister has set up. The committee, which is under the Prime Minister’s chairmanship, comprises Ministers and members of the Coal Board, the Central Electripity Board and the railway executive. It will co-ordinate action from day to day. The Ministers on the committee are Dr. Dalton, Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr. Shinwell, Mr. Barnes and Mr. Isaacs. No Domestic Consumption.

Domestic consumption of electricity during the periods of restriction is prohibited under Defence Regulation 55. The existing restrictions on the industrial use of electricity will not be extended. Consumption of any form of fuel for greyhound racing is prohibited immediately. Under Regulation 55, the committee also decided on the cancellation of railway passenger services wherever necessary to enable coal trains to be run, and on all possible steps to ensure the rapid turn-round of colliers in the Thames, including discharge at the London docks that the colliers do not normally use. The Minister of Labour, after consultation with the trade unions, will immediately organise the supply of additional civilian labour to help to unload coal wagons. The services will co-operate in this task. Authority for Minister. The Minister of Transport will immediately arrange a supply of lorries to help to unload coal from the wagons. The Minister of Fuel , and Power was authorised to requisition coal to enable the diversion of supplies from the original consignee in order to ensure a rapid turn-round of wagons. The Ministers of Fuel and Transport were authorised to take all steps, including the calling in of service personnel and transport, to accelerate the lifting of open-cast coal stocked on the ground. As soon as the emergency lessens, the relaxation of industrial electricity restrictions will take priority over any domestic relaxation. The statement says: “No date as .to when the relaxation of the industrial restriction will become possible can yet be given, but this relaxation may take place gradually.”