10
Saturday, November 24, 1973
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IMPLEMENT FUEL SAVING MEASURES
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All government departments are now taking steps to conserve
electricity as part of a concerted effort to reduce consumption by up to
15 per cent as a precautionary measure due to the uncertainty in the
world oil situation.
While fuel stocks at present are normal, the Chairman of the
011 Policy Committee, Mr. M.D.A. Clinton, has impressed on department
heads the prudency of voluntary restraints now as a matter of precaution.
"This order of cutback does not in our judgement warrant instituting
specific rationing schemes but, as a matter of prudence, we are devising
contingency plans and some mandatory controls may eventually have to be
imposed if voluntary restraint does not come up to expectations or if the
supply situation deteriorates," he said.
It was aimed, he said, to achieve a reduction of 15 per cent
across the board in every department. The emphasis was on electricity as
this was derived from fuel oil which was most likely to be restricted and
which was essential to industry and could not be hoarded.
However, savings could also be made on petrol and light diesel oil,
Mr. Clinton pointed out, and he requested department heads to consider
whatever suitable measures without impairing the efficiency of departments
or imposing undue hardship on staff.
The Oil Distribution Committee had examined the situation in the
light of the expected outback and had roughly determined priorities for the
maintenance of fuel supplies, said Mr. Clinton.
/These