SAVE ELECTRICITY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4430, 26 May 1941, Page 4

SAVE ELECTRICITY

AN URGENT NECESSITY. APPEAL TO CONSUMERS. At Friday’s meeting of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board an urgent appeal was received from the Electricity Controller (Mr F. T. Kissel) to conserve the use of electricity in all possible manner, in view of a likely shortage during the next ensuing months. In particular, he desired the consumption in the Te Awamutu Board’s area to be reduced to five per cent above that of last year. The secretary-manager (Mr D. McArthur) emphasised the seriousness of the position, and remarked that if a voluntary effort were not made the Controller would use the compulsory powers with which he was invested. Mr McArthur went on to suggest a number of methods by which consumption could be reduced, and read out a comprehensive circular which he asked the Board’s permission to send out to consumers appealing for their co-operatioq. Other Boards had already taken action. He emphasised that it was not so much the peak load they had to watch as the number of units used. To reduce the latter was absolutely essential. Following upon the manager’s explanation, a lengthy one, it was agreed to send out a circular to consumers appealing for co-operation in reducing consumption in every possible direction, to cut off the community lighting at midnight, and to ask the consent of the business people to a further reduction to 11 p.m., and to refuse to put in any more electirc stoves where there were alternative means for cooking. The chairman (Mr J. T. Johnson) said that if there were not a satisfactory response to the appeal it w’ould be imperative to take further measures.