ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9721, 25 July 1917, Page 9

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER

INCREASED DEMAND. During the past few weeks electrical engineers and warehousemen in Wellington have been kept busy attending to the demands for the installation of electric lighting, heating and cooking systems. The sale for these articles has constituted a record, and, such articles being hard to procure; stocks are/running low. For r. long time the only market open for the purchase of such wares has been America, and now that market is becoming uncertain. Local supplies were made to last out, though the newest forms of heaters, etc., could he obtained only with great difficulty and at greater prices. ... The effect of the restriction of the gas supply for all purposes was to drive many householders and business people on to the electrical market, either as a substitute or as a standby. In two days over forty applications for the installation of electric light were received bv the Corporation Lighting Department. Some of the applications dealt with have been of an urgent character. For example, the lighting of the wharves could not be delayed. Work was commenced by the corporation workmen in the morning and completed by the evening. Light was, of course, the principal demand, but there were also many requests for heating points, and as these could not be installed immediately, customers purchased the irons in stores, to use from the lighting circuit, since this could be done simply by strengthening the fuse. Lately, new connections, especially for light, have not been welcomed by the corporation. The cost of wiring is much greater than in pre-war days, and the corporation power plants have been working to their utmost rapacity. New machinery could be installed onlv at greatly added capital cost, and for this re-.son. if not on the patriotic ground that only necessary extensions; should be made during the war. additions to the number of lighting consumers are not sought.