MATERIALS FOR POWER BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 24565, 14 October 1941, Page 6

MATERIALS FOR POWER BOARD

BAN ON PURCHASES FROM AMERICA (P.A.) AUCKLAND, October 13. “It is distressing to get letters like this within one week,” stated the chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board at a meeting today when the Electricity Controller, Mr F. T. M. Kissel, advised that previous instructions about the purchase of electrical materials from the United States had now been cancelled. At a meeting of the board in committee last week the original instructions were received. The board was then advised that, in future all electric supply authorities must obtain their requirements . in electrical equipment from the United States, as imports normally obtained from Britain were practically prohibited for the time being. The Controller’s letter received today stated that he had been asked by the Ministry of Supply, which had sponsored the matter, that steps be taken to withhold any action contemplated by the authorities until the position was further clarified by the Ministry of Supply. The conditions would remain as they were before with the possible exception of the supply of copper cable. The general manager, Mr Bartley, said he understood manufacturers in Britain had advised their agents in New Zealand that they could continue to supply. The board would now make application for import licences to procure its supplies of materials.