“Referred to ‘Punch’”

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 21, 23 October 1946, Page 7

“Referred to ‘Punch’”

AMI SKMKX'I' OVER LETTER :.i LNISTER AND POWER BOARD Portion of a letter from the Minister of Works, Mr. R. Semple, caused much amusement when read at a meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board on Thursday. The letter was in reply to a request by the Board that broadcasting hours be reduced in order to conserve electric power. The passage that caused the merriment stated: —“The whole question of the use ol radio broadcasting in relation to the power position lias been under investigation for some time. There may be some direct saving in power used by listeners if the hours of shut-down cere extended, but on the other hand a valuable means of communicating quickly with, consumers would be lost by the electricity controller.” “That is the year’s biggest joke. I move that the letter- be received and referred to ‘Punch,’ ” said Mr. J. VV, Andrews.

The Minister further stated that if it became essential to introduce electricity rationing again the proposal to reduce broadcasting hours would he examined. The letter was “received.”

According to a report presented to the meeting a remit from the Auckland Electric Power Board calling the attention of the Government to the necessity for further drastic reduction in the hours of broadcasting was carried at the recent conference of the New Zealand Power Boards’ Association.