XN000022-1973-11-24 — Page 11

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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.

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