The Times FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1943. Electricity’s Two Lessons

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 161, 9 July 1943, Page 4

The Times FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1943. Electricity’s Two Lessons

The shortage of electricity this winter has provided the people of this country with two lessons worthy of taking to heai’t. Firstly, as to the cooperation that may be obtained by an intelligent, tactful appeal to the public—a cooperation which earned the expressed appreciation of the Minister of Supply given in a statement a few days ago.

Just three weeks ago an absolute crisis was faced in matching the production and consumption of electricity. The general public were appealed to for their cooperation in voluntarily reducing consumption. To quote the Minister’s own figures: if the peak load of June 14 was taken as 100, the load on the evening of June 15 had been reduced to 94 and on June 16 to SB—a reduction of 12 per cent. Since that date the cooperation of consumers has been remarkably well maintained, the load varying between 88 per cent, and 94 per cent, of the normal.

As urged in these columns when the appeal was first made for voluntary restriction, there was in this offered “a practical test of democracy at work.” The response shown on the part of the public throughout the North Island is worthy of congratulation.

There is still need to maintain in every household a conscious endeavour to keep down the consumption of electricity—a need, one must voice with regret, that will long remain with us. And although the public are in duty bound to exercise such restraint, they have every right to demand to know the wliys and wherefores of such a situation.

Plainly stated, the electrical position in New Zealand comes as the ill result of political control of a great public undertaking. And here is a second lesson to be derived from the electricity shortage—-the need for a complete reform in administration of this service.

A special report prepared by the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand has been published in full in the New Zealand Electrical Journal of June 25. Therein is traced the development of the shortage, its extent in the North Island and also is forecasted the future of -supply and demand, the dire conclusion being drawn that “ten years of shortage and continued restriction and rationing after the war” is in prospect.

Quotations from Ministerial statements show plainly that the situation now faced arose through Ministerial control—from the bad judgment of one who was not well-versed in the economics of electricity and yet presumed to know all—the Minister of Public AVorks, Hon. R. Semple. That gentleman is, however, not to be blamed too harshly. After all, electricity was for him but one of many interests. And even in the case of the Public Works Department the development and. generation of .electricity was but a subdepartment.

There is an alternative proposal for control that would avoid the weaknesses so evident. Establish a commission, a superdirectorate, nominated almost entirely by the power supply authorities. Hand over all the Government’s electrical undertakings to the complete control of that commission. Giving control of the assets and liabilities, of revenue and development, and the sales policy, thus creating a great cooperative public undertaking controlled by specialists possessing expert knowledge of their subject and enthusiasm for its development.

The power authorities have proved their capabilities, for no other public bodies in the Dominion hold so magnificent a 1-ecoAl of achievement. Their policies have exhibited prudence and initiative in splendid combination.

The condemnation given of Ministerial control is something apart altogether from politics—that is, party politics. It matters not what changes of government may ensue, there will be always present weaknesses in Ministerial and Departmental control of such a productive undertaking as the generation of electricity. Commission control offers a one sound and wholly acceptable alternative.