CONSERVING POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 2

CONSERVING POWER

CURRENT YEAR'S SUPPLY % STRICT CONTROL NEEDED A warning that all electric-power author!lies would have to exercise the strictest control over supplies of power to consumers, especially in the North Island, during the current year, was given in a letter received from the Electric-Power Boards and Supply Authorities' Association at yesterday's meeting of the Waitemata board. "It is anticipated that the allowable , total increase of loading over the North Island areas will he about the same as last year," the letter stated, "but defence requirements are taking such a large proportion of the allowable increase in some areas that in many others wnieii arc only slightly affected by such requirements the increase will be very small. In the event of any trouble with plant or other unforeseen circumstances there may arise cases where authorities will have to cut down to below what they supplied last year." The Electricity Controller, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, was doing all in his power to assist the position, the letter concluded, but it rested with the supply authorities to keep within their present allocations of power or any revised allocations which might be made from time to time. AWARD OF D.S.C. UNION COMPANY OFFICER The award of the Distinguished Service Cross has been made to Lieutenant Geoffrey V. Ward, R.N.R., according to advice received by his mother, Mrs. K. J. Ward, of 15 Dilworth Avenue, Kemuera. Lieutenant Ward, who was born in Essex, England, is 29. He was educated at the Nautical College, Pangbourne. and afterward joined the Union Castle Steamship Company as a cadet officer.

In 1937 Lieutenant Ward joined his family, who had come to live in Auckland, and he secured an appointment with the Union Steam Ship Company, Limited. Three years ago he was called to the Royal Naval Reserve. His wife and two children are living in England.

NELSON APPLES SUPPLIES FOR AMERICANS (0.C.) NELSON, Monday Although the'export of apples from New Zealand is not to be resumed in the ordinary way, several hundred thousand cases from this year's Nelson crop will be made available to American forces in the Pacific. Not all of them will be going out of New Zealand. The fruit harvest in Nelson is now approaching its peak. Last week 110,000 cases were received at assembly points from orchards. So far 289,000 cases of apples and 40.000 cases of pears have come forward. The crop is turning out very well and is expected to exceed 1,000.000 cases for the district. The record fruit production for Nelson was in 1941, when the output was 1,200,000 cases. TELEPHONE THEFTS RECEIVER ARMS TAKEN About 40 arms carrying the ear and mouth-pieces have been stolen from public telephone booths in Auckland. Most of the thefts have taken place in the city area and have been committed nfter dark. In most of the cases it appeared that the arms had been torn away from the boxes, but some had been cut loose. The majority of them have not been traced. One was found lying on the floor of the booth to which it belonged. The reason for the thefts has not been established, but it is thought that, by rewinding, they might be converted for radio purposes. DESERTION FROM: ARMY 18 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday A sentence of 18 months' imprisonment was imposed by a district courtmartial on Private Roy Meyers Johnstone, who was found guilty of desertion from the Army for nearly two years. It was stated in evidence that accused escaped from detention barracks on May 29, 1941, and surrendered to the civil police at Temuka on March 7 last wearing civilian clothes. Accused, who said he was a conscientious objector, enlisted in Christchurch. He said his conscience would allow him to fight the Japanese in New Zealand, but not an enemy abroad. ABSENTEE MINERS (P.A.) WESTPORT, Monday Referring to absenteeism the Minister of Labour,""the Hon. P. C. Webb, said that while most miners were playing the game there were some who did not realise their responsibilities. This was a people's war and coal was needed for victory. If those miners who were absenting themselves from work without reasonable cause did not change their attitude, then the only recourse for the Government would be to put tliejii into military camps, and take out of camps miners who were prepared to play their part to .the country. i» its .time of crisis.