LIGHTING IN CITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 191, 15 July 1941, Page 2

LIGHTING IN CITY

POWER BOARD CRITICAL. The extent of street lighting and the use of electric signs in Palmerston North were the subject of a lengthy discussion by the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board, yesterday, when a motion was carried that the Electricity Controller (Mr F. T. M. Kissell) be invited to come to Palmerston North to discuss the whole position. The subject arose when a letter was received from the Electricity Controller, replying to a request made at the last meeting of the board that all neon signs should he discontinued. The psychological effect on consumers was fully appreciated, it was stilted in the letter, and from that point of view it would be very desirable if all such signs and other forms of advertising lighting wero discontinued. However, on broad general principles, he had left it to the individual supply authorities in the North Island to determine the methods they should adopt for controlling their load. It was considered that local supply authorities were in a much better position to control their load than would be possible by a centralised authority. Mr J. 11. Mason enquired if the board had authority to control its load by ordering signs to be discontinued, and in reply the nianagingsccrutary (Mr K. W. Eglinton) stated that the board had no power to cut the supply off in Palmerston North. Mr P. G. Guy stated that recently an appeal was made to the people to reduce the load. Farmers had telephoned to him saying that they had cut off part of their services, but could i still see the blaze of illuminations of Palmerston North, which they thought | was unfair. Something would have to ! be done regarding the lights in the' city. He _ would not say the people: were abusing the lighting or the use. of signs. The controversy was not doing New Zealand any good. Some I people had said it was reviving the old 1 controversy of town versus country, ' but this was not the case. Mr Guy ; added that he was under the imprcs- j sion that the board's engineer (Mr W. j A. W-iters) was the electricity controller for this district. Mr Wtiters replied that he had noth- i ing to do with the lighting in Palmerston North. There was no controller: for Palmerston North or Feilding. He i had authority over coastal areas only, | principally Fox ton and Sanson. Mr J. T. J. Ileatley said he did! not think the City Council had any say in the matter. I

The chairman (Mr J. Boyco) stated that the hoard had no authority to curtail the power. The current was available and Mr Kissel 1 stated that they had to pass it on ; they had no say. Mr Waters said the board had no authority to tell people to put their lights out. "We are working under the Emergency Regulations Act and that controls any other Act or contract," he said.

"The lights of Palraorston North, it has been stated, can be seen at sea," Mr Guy stated. "Can you do anything about that?" Mr Waters: No.

CONTROLLER URGES ACTION

At this stage, a further letter was read from the Electricity Controller, dated July 2. This stated that lor ;the weeks ended June 15 and i.'2 the 1 increase in weekly units was consideri ably in excess of the 74 per cent, alioj catcd to the board. Apart from sending out circular notices to all consumers, restricting street lighting, and J cutting off 30 water heaters, the board did not appear to have taken any other | definite steps to control its load. "In : as much as I understand you have ap- | proximately 1000 cowshed* water heatters," the letter continued, "could you ■ not take more definite action to cut : these off during the months when they are not required!-' In fairness to the other supply authorities, it is imperative that you should take more definite steps to control your load.". Mr GrUy asked whether it would bo fair for the hoard to cut off cowshed water heaters. Air N. Campbell said these heaters were more important than the advertising lights in Palmcrston .North. The managing-secretary reported that the chairman had authorised the despatch of the following reply ip Mr Kissell: "The question of reducing the cowshed water heater load is very difficult, as from the middle of this month the dairying season will bo starting again. The consumers in our area are very reluctant to reduce their load when the lighting of the city can be seen for miles around. The board would like authority to refuse to connect any new electric ranges or water beaters when there is another method in use. The board has circularised every consumer in the district, has placed two advertisements in the newspapers and requested water heaters to be cut off, reduced street lighting, and is willing to co-operate in every way possible. Though the increase has been more than 7J- per cent in the period mentioned by you, in taking out the figures for the quarter ending July 31, 1941. the increase over the same period of the previous year is only 5.15 per cent." Mr Heatley said Palmerston North svas doing a lot to reduce its load. Mr L. A. Hogg stated that the in3rcasc in the load to Ohakea was the nggest in the board's area and the ights were as bright as Palmerston North's at night. Mr M. A. Eliott remarked that the )oard was not being backed up by the •ontrol authorities. Several letters had been written to the Electricity Controller, stated the chairman, but they had received no reply. It might not be his fault, but it Trade the board's position very difficult. The board could not reduce the lighting in the city; nor could it do so at Ohakea. The main trouble was the lighting at night. .Mr Campbell suggested writing to the Controller asking him for instructions how to control the lighting. Mr Hogg referred to an intimation the board had received some time ago that it might have to reduce its load by 25 per cent., and pointed out that tho executive had not yet made any recommendations as to how this could he effected. He had recently been at sea at night and the Peilding lights could be seen, just as plainly as Palmerston North's.

Mr Guy said that although the board was the supply authority for Ohaken and Palmerston North, it had no control over them.

Mr Eglinton said Ohakea and Palmerston North had licenses and were meeting their obligations. The load in the city had booji reduced.

Mr J. A. Nash 'moved that a letter be sent to the Electricity Controller asking him to come to Palmcrston North and discuss the whole matter. This course was agreed to. In the course of his report Mr Waters stated that a supply was given to 102 new consumers during the month. "The week ending June 22 was I particularly cold and in the week our! units purchased exceeded our alloca-1 tion, although the total quarter's units i are below our allocation. The k.v.a. I load delivered to Palmerston North I was 5634 k.v.a.. while 814 k.v.a. was ' delivered to R.N.Z.A.F., Ohakoa, during the same quarter. Both these, fig- . ures arc new high records."- " .