THE POWER SHORTAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 10

THE POWER SHORTAGES

Sir,—Was I hearing right on Sunday night when I heard Dr Dunsheath say that tlie generators for Maraetai were delivered? In the absence of confirmation in your report. I am wondering if that is true, and Britain has delivered the goods and we are not ready to use them yet.' If it is true, then all the Government excuses about lack of generating equipment from overseas look a little pale; or, again, was it Dr Dunsheath woo made a mistake?—l am, etc.. Watt. June 2

[Dr Dunsheath made the statement to which our correspondent refers.—Ed O.D.T.]

Sir,—lt was with amazement, together with a large measure of indignation, that I read of the power cuts imposed by our local Electricity Department. There can be no real hardship imposed on anyone by the turning off of ous street lights at midnight or the prohibition of the use of Neon signs. However, electric hot water heating is another story. With its 72hour period of prohibition, it is a definite hardship on all people who use this method of water neating. I pity tliC mothers of children who have daily washing to do. The public would indeed be blind if they do not notice that it is obvious that people without alternatives will make use of their electric ranges (so far not curtailed) t 6 heat their water. Of course, with higher charges for ranges than circulators, the corporation will not be losing to any extent financially, although they will p'robably gain a reduction in power used. It is to be noticed, however, that a large proportion of citizens who do not heat water the electric way will make no sacrifice whatever. As a paradox we have our'radio stations to-day commencing extended hours of operation. Has officialdom ever put the cart before the horse in a more glaring manner?—l am, etc., Disgusted.

Sir, —Electricity cuts are all very well, and no doubt necessary, but surely they should be applied to the non-essential use of electricity. The cutting-off of the radio during the day is the most sensible of all. We can certainly do without street lighting; .no sane person would be out after midnight on a winter’s night anyway. We can also do without window lighting. Why, when we have seven days in the week cannot the City Council choose three alternate days for the 24hourly cut instead of three consecutive days We do not mind these power cuts if they are absolutely necessary, but we do object to the thoughtless way in which the periods of no water Heating have been arranged. I therefore request, sir, on behalf of all mothers of babies that some compromise may be effected. Perhaps the Plunket Society would be willing to stand behind us in requesting the council to amend the hours.—l am, etc., J. McC.

Sir,—As your correspondent “ G.P. says in his letter this morning, it does seem rather strange the contradictions we are witnessing every day. If it is not one - excuse then it is another, and I fail to see how Dr Dunsheath’s visit could be termed one of goodwill, when the best he had to say was, “A more important fact is that no matter what is done to-day, it is impossible to escape from the position for years to come. For at least three years and probably for longer.” Are there no firms in Great Britain making electric generating plant—or is all they make being exported to Europe? Perhaps an electrical, engineer in receipt of Home journals could give youv readers some information on that point. • Another aspect of the matter is that the members of the Dunedin City Council have broken faith with the people to whom they have sold electric hot-water heaters, if they cannot supply the power necessary to run them. Let them cut out all talk of bringing tons of fireworks for the Centennial, and in all soberness make this shipping space available for electric generating equipment to meet the growing demands; or better still, find out about this new way of power production. as contained in Reynold’s News. January 26, 1947: “ Britain’s research engineers have scored another triumph and vast economic changes in industry are on the way Developments in gas turbines for generating power are so well advanced that prospects of a new industrial era are bright. The expansion of the gas turbine will startle the world, says one expert. Particularly will this apply to ocean transport.”—l am, etc., . A. S. M. Dunedin, June 3.