ACUTE POWER POSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 10

ACUTE POWER POSITION.

SHORTAGE AT NEW PLYMOUTH

SERVICES FURTHER REDUCED

DOWNPOUR OF RAIN NEEDED,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday.

Thfr position in regard to electric power at New Plymouth is still acute, and until there is a good downpour of rain there is not much likelihood of relief,

This morning the tram service was again considerably reduced and the motorbuses serving those suburbs not provided with trams were requisitioned to relieve the position on the main tram route. Tho electrical engineer said everything possible would be done by his department to minimise the inconvenience to consumers. The plant at the fertiliser works at Smart Road was being used and the council's own plant was generating every possible ounce of power. It had been hoped that the Taranaki Power Board might be able to grant some help on New Year's Eve, but it was understood that unless there was rain in the meantime there was little possibility of any relief from this direction.

This evening the street and community lighting systems were again suspended, while only a skeleton tram service was maintained. The retail shopkeepers are laying in stocks of candles Sin anticipation of a break-down in power on New Year's Eve, when the load will be exceptionally heavy. There is no prospect of rain.