GAS CRISIS OVER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24775, 24 December 1943, Page 6

GAS CRISIS OVER

RAPID RESTORATION FULL DOMESTIC SUPPLY USE OF WATER-ITEATERS A supply of gas became available in the city just on 5 o'clock last evening and a full domestic service will bo restored early this morning. So rapidly has the supply been built up that consumers are notified that they may turn on water-heaters after 7 a.m. to-day. Residents reported a satisfactory pressure for cooking last evening and little trouble from air in the pipes was experienced by those who followed the instructions given by the company. Those who did not, found that therewas a supply for a while and then wasted many matches trying to light air. Difficulty Overcome A few households at dead ends and on lower levels had some .temporary difficulty but this was overcoino. A heavy demand was placed on the output when it was found that a supply was available, hut production of gas had gone so well that the company was able to improve on the schedule it had set itself. The task of restoring the supply called for a great deal ot careful organisation which was carried out without a hitch. The company's maintenance staff was busy throughout the day dealing with any difficulties which had arisen with appliances and ill a wide ooverage dealt with an exceptionally large number of calls. Good Work by Employees "Tho men have done very well indeed," said Mr. It. Worley, manager of the Auckland Gas Company, last night when referring to the efforts of the employees since returning to work on Wednesday morning, 'following it two-day .strike. The public, too, had appreciated the company's position and had responded excellently to the instructions that had been issued. As a result the company had been able to restore the service for cooking purposes at the earliest possible moment. Pressure was available in the inner area of the city just before 5 o'clock while the outer areas obtained a supply about half an hour afterward. Mr. Worley explained that the company did not anticipate having to interrupt the domestic supply again. So far as industrial users were concerned he advised that they should make direct contact with the company which would endeavour to restore their service as soon as possible to-day.

HOPES FIFTH WAR CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM MR. HOLLAND (P.A.) CH.RISTCHURCH, Thursday "This, our fifth war Christmas, is an occasion when people will choose to ponder and to cast their thoughts to those far away fields'where New Zcalanders are fighting with the servicemen of the ljnited Nations to restore the festival to its former place in our lives," says a message by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland. "Those of vis who have sons and relatives away will all hope that our brave men will he able to enjoy some respite from warfare and that they will be able to celebrate Christmas properly. The wounded, the sick, the afllicted and the bereaved, wherever they may he, have a special place in our thoughts at this time and we will all pray that they may soon lie restored to health and* strength and comforted in their sorrow. "There is another side to the C hristmas of 1943. We have many reasons to rejoice at the amazing progress that has been made toward victory, to the reuniting of families and to the restoration of peace on earth." After reference to the year s successes, Mr. Holland added: ' The tide has turned and everywhere our forces are advancing in every battle area, our public morale is high and get l ing stronger every day, we are more united than ever before and our great leader, Mr. Winston Churchill, is recovering. The final victory for 'the cause of righteousness and ju«tice is now a certainty. Let ii" be of izood cheer, strong in our faith that, with God s help aud guidance, victory will soon be ours."

SPECIAL BROADCAST AIR CHIEF'S MESSAGE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday Arrangements for the broadcast of short and long-wave greetings on Christmas Eve over the whole Oceanic area on a ran go calculated to roach Now Zealand airmen wherever thnv servo in the southern war 7,0110 havo been concluded bv the Royal Now Zealand Air Force. Special recorded transcriptions have been made in Wellington by the National Broadcasting Service and include items by the Roval New Zealand Air Force Hand, the W.A.A.F. Maori C«11 oir and a message from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt. C.Ii.K. Flown to Fiji by aeroplane, the programme will he broadcast from Z«JV • Suva, 011 920 kilocycles and from VPD2, Suva, on 2- r ).2 metres. To be made simultaneously. the broadcasts will commence at 7 p.m. (New Zealand time) on Christmas Eve. All vocal, band and symphonic itemß are by serving Air Force personnel. Tn bis message. Air Vice-Marshal Isitt. after extending seasonal greetings to all officers and men, congratulates them on their successful operational activities against, the enemy. He pavs a tribute to the pioneer work of tlhe earlv R.N.Z.A.F. reconnaissance squadrons and the Air Force constructional and works units. Addressing Pacific air and ground crews, he says there are many more officers and men preparing to join and in many cases to relieve them.

BED OROSB GREETINGS PRISONERS AND INTERNEES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday A message of Christmas greetings and hope for the new year has been addressed by the International Red Cross Committee to prisoners of war and civil internee*. It says the committee mid its 3iW) roll a bora tors in Switzerland and delegates throughout the world remember them and their families -with affectionate solicitude. STEEL CONTROL NOTICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday Tlie Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in a statement, referred to the Steel Control Notice, No. 2. Ho said it provides for the introduction ol very comprehensive control over steel, inasmuch as from January 1, 1944, 110 owner of steel may sell, supply or otherwise dispose of it without receiving approval on the form prescribed. The purpose of the notice is to co-ordinate and extend the existing controls over the use of steel and .bring them into line with those of the Governments of the United States and Britain. A joint. Anglo-American steel mission visited New Zealand some months ago and requested the introduction of control along the lines of that now being introduced,

ALLENBY PRIZE AWARD (0.C.) GISBOBNE. Thursday Advice has been received that SecondLieutenant V. Sexton, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Sexton, of Gisborne, has been awarded the Allenbv Prize in passing through at the head of the course of the Officer Cadets Training Unit in the Middle East. Lieutenant Sexton joined the Permanent Staff in 19.35 and went overseas with the Second Echelon as a warrantofficer. He was mentioned in despatches in GrT&acA and. youndftd in Libya.