POWER SHORTAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27573, 15 December 1950, Page 9

POWER SHORTAGES

Effect On Claude Neon Lights Company PA AUCKLAND, Dec. 14. For the tenth successive year the power shortage was handicapping Claude Neon Lights of New Zealand, Limited, Mr J. V. Larner, the chairman of directors, told shareholders at the twenty-first annual meeting in Auckland today. The directors saw no immediate prospect of reestablishing their Neon sign business in the North Island, but their South Island business in Neon signs was progressing and assisting in the overall success of the company. Even the South Island was not without power shortages from time to time, and full expansion could not be undertaken until the power shortage threat was removed. The value of Neon sign contracts now stood at £168,000, an increase of £7OOO on last year’s total. At the date of the blackout in March, 1941, the company’s contract value in neon signs was £230,915. This figure was unlikely to be reached again until sufficient power was available in the North Island. Fluorescent lighting was still the principal activity. The new building in Christchurch was all but completed and would relieve congestion at the Auckland plant. The proposed alterations at Wellington had still not been commenced, but some improvements should be carried out there during the coming year. The net profit for the year was £13,133, compared with £26,541 last year.