NOT GRANTED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 4028, 11 August 1948, Page 5

NOT GRANTED

EXTRA LIGHTING EFFECT ON FARMERS REQUEST TO POWER BOARD In view of the recent Ministei ial announcement that all restrictions were soon to be lifted in regard to power consumption three requests for extra street and shop lighting were received at the August meeting of the Thames Valley Electric-Power Board. The request for Neon shop lighting came from Mr G. Gamble of Paeroa and that for extra street lighting from the Morrinsville Borough Council and Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce. The letter from the chamber pointed out that Morrinsville lighting compared unfavourably with that of Rotorua, Matamata, Waihi and Paeroa. “There is nothing to prevent them increasing their street lights,” said the chairman, Mr J. F. Mayn. Manager’s Report The manager, Mr R. Sprague, stated in his report that “we cannot allow shop lighting or sign lighting owing to the fact that at the present time we are exceeding our allocation from the department. Apart from this it is considered that shop and sign lighting being in the nature of luxury lighting can only be allowed at

the expense of radiators, i.e. the use of radiators would have to be further curtailed or banned altogether. This is not desirable as radiators are more of a necessity today, particularly in all-electric houses and shops and fac-

tories where there are no alternative methdds of heating. “Notwithstanding anything the Minister said we cannot exceed our unit allocation for the year and it is necessary for the board to give a continuity of supply to the dairy industry in preference to unnecessary luxury services, ■ such as shop and sign lighting.” Effect on People The chief engineer, Mr N. G. McLeod, said that the effect of extra lighting was psychological. “ People seeing those lights will think there is plenty of power and we just have not got it,” he said. Mr T. A. Barrett pointed out that with cows coming into milk the dairy farmers were going to use a tremendous amount of extra power and every effort should be made to conserve it in the meantime.

Reference was made to the fact that Thames had exceeded their allocation of power by .906 per cent. “This board should take a firm stand with regard to Thames,” said Mr Barrett. “ Thames are always over.” The following motion, passed at a meeting of the special finance committee was confirmed in open meeting. “ That the restrictions on community lights and under-verandah lighting remain, but that no restrictions be placed on the installation of additional street lights.”