MINISTER’S REPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26410, 14 March 1947, Page 8

MINISTER’S REPLY

PLANS FOR REDUCTION i ■ •> CUTS IN BROADCASTING P.A. WELLINGTON, Mar. 13.; “The Government is very much concerned with the present difficult power situation and will, be prepared to do anything which will provide relief without imposing impossible burdens on, any section of the community.” ■ states. ; .the Minister of Works, Mr Semple in a letter written to-day in reply to one from thfe Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association. The Minister added that the Government had under consideration at the present time other methods, which, although drastic, would provide some solution of the difficulty, and the association would be advised of these as soon as an y decision could be reached. The Minister said in his letter that the question of reducing the hours of broadcasting had been considered on many occasions in the past, and While it was agreed that a certain amount of power might be saved by this means it must also be recognised that broadcasting fulfilled a very essential need for many purposes and must be retained for at least a portion of the day. He had recently arranged with the Minister in Charge of Broadcasting for an extension of cuts to those operating in previous ' mid-winter terms, and this would come, into operation at an early date.The second suggestion that a blackout on al] domestic consumers might be imposed by the power boards between certain hours had already been given a considerable amount of attention, but in view of the fact that domestic consumers in many cases were located on the same distribution lines as essential industries of various kinds it would appear that this suggestion would be very difficult to carry out in practice. Under Amendment No. 1 of the Electricity Control Order. 1945. power supplv authorities had power to impose restrictions of this kind should they deem it necessary. Apparently, however, these bodies had not so far considered it desirable or necessary to implement such matters. The association’s thM suggestion (that evening entertainments should begin in sufficient time to enable those / attending them to reach their homes an elentwHtv at midnight). was dependent on the second suggestion heine brought into oner*,, tion. and as there mifdit be difficulties in introducing that it did- not seem necessary to consider the third suggestion further at present