Christchurch Fears Power Shortage

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1938, Page 3

Christchurch Fears Power Shortage

F Per Press Association. — Copyright .l CHRISTCHURCH. This Day A power shortage in Christchurch appears certain next year, with increasing gravity for the winter of 1940. A fuel plant as an auxiliary to the national system of supply is logically the Government’s responsibility, but if the Government will not act, the situation is sufficiently serious for the City Council to act independently. These are two of the conclusions reached by the general manager of the municipal electricity department, Mr E. Hitchcock, in a repoi’t submitted to the council on the methods of ensuring an uninterrupted and adequate supply of electric power to the city With this report was submitted a report by the electricity committee, which referred to Mr Hitchcock’s report as “something disturbing." and ] commented that in examining the i question of a stand-by plant, a move i disquieting matter had been revealed: ' the likelihood of a shortage, rather 1 than interruptions of power. i After consideration of Mr Hitch- | cock’s report, the committee had writ- j ten to the Public Works Department j for information on certain matters rc-1 ferred to in this report. Consideration j of the report was deferred by the | council until a reply has been received from the Public Works Department,