50% CUT SOUGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22612, 15 April 1948, Page 6

50% CUT SOUGHT

BROADCAST HOURS CONSERVING POWER POWER BOARDS' REQUEST (P.A.) WELLINGTON. April 15. An immediate curtailment in the hours of broadcasting bv ->0 per cent ns a means of saving electric power is to be urged by a deputation representing the ’ Electric Power Boards and Supplv Authorities’ Association which is to meet the Electricity Controller and General Manager of Die Strte Hydro-Electric Department, Mr. A. E. Davenport today. The spokesman for the deputation will be Mr. S. Blackley, who will deputise for the president of the association. Mr. J. A. Nash, of Palmerston North. Mr Blackley will point out tnat for some time the supply author’cus have, while power cuts were imposed, asked for the drastic curtailment of radio broadcasting hours bv at least jO tier cut. These representations were being made as a result of discussions at annual conferences and meetings of the association’s executive committee and its emergency committee, and the subject also has been discussed by the power shortage advisory committee. No Water Heating Permitted

In the Palmerston North district there has been imposed a 100 per cent cut on water-heaters and, for the last three davs, no water-heating has been permitted in that district, this measure having been imposed in an effort to assist the general supply position in the North Island. The deputation will also state: “While it is recognised that broadcasting fulfils a very essential need for many purposes and must be retained for a portion of the day, the present power situation leaves no alternative but to explore every avenue where a saving in units can be made. For this season we are definitely of the opinion that a useful saving in units will eventuate if the number of broadcasting hours is immediately lessened. »

“In previous representations to the Minister-in-Charge of the department, we mentioned the case of poultry farmers who do not consume a great amount of electricity in comparison with the total North Island consumption, but electricity is essential for this industry. One can imagine the mental attitude of a disconnected poultry farmer who knows that the broadcasting service is being maintained while he may be suffering serious loss due to power cuts. Effect on Industry ‘.lt is equally easy to imagine the attitude of a large industrialist who sees his works, machinery and staff standing idle for an hour or more when he is aware that, at the same time, there are thousands of receiving sets, each using riot less than 60 watts, whose immobilisation might and would, in many cases, set free an amount of electricity which would have kept his industrial processes in continuous operation.

“Under the circumstances, it is necessary to estimate the precise saving that would be made in any day or at arty hour through the non-use of receiving sets and the discontinuance of radio broadcasting transmission. We know it is so great that it would constitute a valuable contribution towards the campaign for economy in the use of electricity. I, therefore, on behalf of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand request that an immediate curtailment of 50 per cent in the hours of broadcasting be made and that this be conveyed to the Cabinet with your department's approval,”