LAKE LEVEL FALLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26471, 27 May 1947, Page 4

LAKE LEVEL FALLING

Of the 3,380,000 units of electricity consumed in Dunedin during the last seven days, 1,840,000 units were supplied by the Waipori, Diesel and steam plants, while 1.500,000 units were drawn from Government supplies, said the Mayor, Mr Cameron, at the meeting of the City Council last night. During the last three months, the level of Lake Mahinerangi had dropped 10ft from 70ft to 60ft. “ This is a serious drop in the lake level,” said Mr Cameron, u and, unless there is heavy rain soon, further restrictions of electricity in Dunedin may be necessary. An appeal is made to all citizens, especially shopkeepers and retailers, to cut out all unnecessary lighting at once and thus help to postpone the day when further restrictions may be forced on the community.” Three weeks ago, when it was decided to switch off certain street lights at 1 a.m., a request was made to business concerns to reduce neon signs and electrical window displays but the response to the request had not been satisfactory, the Mayor continued. Some retailers had agreed to cut their lighting to the same extent as it was being cut by retailers in other cities, but inquiry had revealed that such lighting was not being restricted in those cities.

Referring to the State Hydro-elec-tricity Department’s advertisement, calling on the housewives to conserve electricity, Mr Cameron said that this was starting at the wrong end. In Dunedin, it was recommended that neon signs and shop-window lighting should be cut drastically. Many of these lights burned all night and throughout the week-end. Controller’s Edict Awaited “Dunedin has been rightly termed 'the ‘city of light,’ and we want to keep it so if at all possible.” the Mayor said. “ Under the Emergency War Regulations, which are still in force, the Electricity Controller has full control of the supply in the South Island, including Waipori, and we have been expecting a statement from him in regard to the present and future supply of power in the South Island. We are anticipating that this statement will be made by the Electricity Controller during the next few days.

“The opinion of the City Electricity Department in Dunedin is that whatever is decided upon should be compulsory, covering the whole of the South Island, as voluntary appeals do not have the desired effect.” More Power Stations? Cr McMillan said the council should proceed with the construction of power stations No. 3 and 4. The Mayor: We are- fully alive to that necessity, but we cannot do tha* just now. Cr Jolly: Who controls the neon signs? The Mayor: The council has the same Control over them as it has over street lighting. Cr Taverner mentioned the value of stored water at the headworks of Waipori. It was the only stored water system in the South Island, and was a valuable contribution to the electricity supply. , During a later discussion by the council, Cr Connolly, M.P., said that electricity would be rationed in the South Island next year.