Power and Light

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 3

Power and Light

MEETING OF MANAWATU-OROUA , BOARD Mr. J. Boyce (chairman) presided at yesterday’s meeting of tho Manawatu- i Oroua Power Board. Others present 1 were Messrs J. A. Nash, W. H. Brown, > J. T. J. Heatley, W. McKay, J. H. Mason, P. G. Guy, .W. S. Page, N. Campbell, N. J. Short, L. A. Hogg and W. R. Hopcroft. In answer to the Board’s request to reduce the hours of broadcasting by shutting down between 8 a.m. and noon and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., the Minister of Supply replied that the value to the supply system resulting from the closing down of the stations was now fairly well known. It was apparent, he continued, that reductions, in addition to those now operating, would not lead to any easing of the restrictions on the use of power, nor would they have avoided the disconnections which were necessary in June. The letter explained that all broadcasting stations were off the air at the times in the day when the system maximum loads occurred and that any extension of the present times of shut-down would not therefore reduce the peak loads still further. On the other hand, the broadcasting services were the only means of getting rapidly in touch with consumers at times of approaching over-load on the system. Very frequently the appeals made over the air had brought about a substantial reduction in the load, so enabling the supply to be maintained without need for disconnections. The combination of circumstances which led to disconnections in June had in the past week tended to improve and as long as there were no further undue difficulties in the transport of coal to the steam stations, and consumers generally continued to respond to the appeals made for economy in the use of power, he (the Minister) expressed hope that it would bo no longer necessary this year to have to ask the supply authorities to reduce the load. The chairman observed that the Minister seemed to consider broadcasting just as important as industry. Mr. Mason contended that the letter just did not make sense, that control was to save units as well as the peak load. Mr. J. A. Nash remarked that power boards and consumers generally were not out of the wood yet. Statement of Accounts. Sales of current for July readings, £25,900 (5s 9d, compared with >£24,880 10s 7d last year, the increase being £lOl3 16s 2d. For the three months, £43,115 Is 6d, compared with £40,884 3s 4d, the increase being £2270 18s 2d. The cost of power for the three months was £22,878 10s, compared with Engineer’s Report. In his report, the engineer (Mr. T, Donaldson) stated that on the evening of July 13, a severe gale swept over the Halcombe area and as a result a fault developed in the Halcombe feeder. The trouble was traced to a broken Cable on the Mt. Biggs section. Supply was given to 93 new consumers during the month, including 18 water heaters, 17 milking motors, 16 other motors and 24 additions to existing, installations. .