SECOND DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26485, 12 June 1947, Page 6

SECOND DAY

SAVING OF POWER CONCERN OVER COAL AND GAS For the second day of the 30 per cent, power restrictions, consumers in the Dunedin city supply area came close to the required saving. The reduction for the 24 hours ended at midnight on Tuesday fell just short of the required percentage. Officers of the Electricity Department were gratified at the public’s co-operation, but expressed the opinion yesterday that still greater efforts will have to be. made if the week's reduction is to be achieved. At the same time great concern is felt in the city by those trying to save electricity by the use of alternative methods of heating and cooking at the present gas situation and the difficulty in obtaining coal. The situation at the City Gasworks has not changed, and consumers are urged to exercise the strictest economy in the use of gas. Sufficient coal is available at the works for about two days’ supply of gas. “ While there has been some additional demands for coal because of the power restrictions, this extra: demand has not been as large as might have been expected,” said Mr D. R. Wilson, president of the Dunedin Coal Merchants’ Union, yesterday. Mr Wilson said he ascribed this to the fact that householders with allelectric heating systems frequently had no alternative methods of water-heat-ing and cooking, and therefore were unable to make use of coal- ' Merchants were stiff behind with their orders, he added, and the additional demand for coal was being met with current orders so far as coal merchants were able to do so.