CURTAILMENT OF ELECTRICAL POWER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19134, 31 March 1924, Page 6

CURTAILMENT OF ELECTRICAL POWER.

TO TBS KDTTOB Sir, —Tour report of a meeting of representatives of business firms lust, week shows that strong exception was taken by one or two of thoso present to townships outside of Dunedin receiving a full supply of electric power during the present crisis. Mr R. . Hudson is reported to have asked Mr , Shackloek why the power at Milton, Port 'Chalmers, Portobello, and other Peninsula resorts should not be cut off altogether or reduced considerably before any cut was made in the city. He. said the Waipori power waa secured bv the oity of Dunedin, '■ find the city should receive first consideration. I am not aware that the Waipori Falls Electrical Power Act of 1904 gave preference to Dunedin over other parts of tho concession area acquired by the corporation for the supply of electric lighting and power as suggested by Mr Hudson. Clause 11 i i reads: "Tho area of supply shall be all that area of land within the provincial district of Otago and comprising the counties, boroughs, and road districts from Milton to Waikouaiti. Port Chalmers, and Peninsula." ; ' We certainly had to wiit 17 years before the corporation supplied us. but now that [ ; this district is rxirtly reticulated there can i he no preference between consumers within the area reticulated. When restrictions are necessary Mr Hudson and I should stand ' on an eqnal footing. It would be interest- ' ing to know upon what Mr Shacklock based ' his assurance to the meeting that the places mentioned would receive attention if the power had to be reduced at any time.—l i am. etc., W. Bowles. Portobello, March 29.