5 Per Cent Power Increase Announced

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1947, Page 4

5 Per Cent Power Increase Announced

(Special) WELLINGTON, This Day. THE allocation of electricity to supply authorities will be increased a further 5 per cent from Monday. The increase was available only to authorities which had kept within the limits set by the electricity controller, said the Minister in charge of the State Hydro-Electricity Department (Mr Semple) in announcing' the increase yesterday.

Improvement in the levels of the lakes at Taupo and Mangahao following recent heavy rains had been responsible for Ihe increase. But lake levels were still low and it would be necessary for supply authorities and their consumers to conserve electricity wherever possible, said Mr Semple. There were, however, a few authorities which had not been doing all that was necessary and were using oower in excess of their allocation.

concession would immediately be passed on to the users of domestic radiators, commented the general manager of the Waitemata Power Board (Mr A. Main). WHANGAREI POSITION

No indication of the effect the new five per cent, increase in the allocation of electric power in the North ■lsland, from Monday, would have on consumers in the Whangarei Borough could be given by the Borough Electricity Engineer (Mr W. J. Dawson) this morning. At the moment he had not received any notification of the increase and, until such advice arrived, he could, not give any indication of what increases, if any, could be allowed consumers.

"I consider this to be,grossly unfair to those who have taken a proper share in meeting the difficult power position.

“For this reason I consider that such authorities should not participate in any Increased allocation until they bring their demand into line with the others.” said Mr Semple. TO DOMESTIC CONSUMERS

Although the Auckland Power Board had had no instructions that the first increase had been cut out, he would be very surprised if the new increase was considered to make a total of 10 per cent, said the chairman of the board (Mr S. I. Crookes). In his opinion the greater part of the new concession should go to domestic consumers, because they were making the greatest savings. If the percentage reduction on Monday, was satisfactory the additional