Sister!

Bunnerong's Little

The Lights of Vila Come and Go

From Our Own Correspondent VILA, April 15.

AFTER having been out for 6 days, the “lights of Vila shine again.” In spite of the 100 per cent, increase in price for current (current now costs about 2/per unit), granted by the Condominium, the company appears to take no steps to ensure a regular supply. Stoppages, varying from one hour to several days, are a common occurrence.

People with electric refrigerators, the

hospitals and garages with electrical equipment are the greatest sufferers, and the greater part oi the population has gone pack to pressure oil lamps and irons as being more reliable.

The plant does not appear to be able to supply all requirements, as when the current is “on” for private consumption it is “off” with regard to street lignting —and this in spite of the fact that resi dents of Vila have to pay a “street light ing tax” which varies in amount accord ing to whether the taxpayer is married single or divorced, and the size of his family. All residents within 3 kilometres of the post office have to pay this tax; and, owing to the configuration of Vila Bay, some unfortunates, who are within the prescribed distance but 3 or 4 miles distant by road, have to pay also, although there are no street lights in their vicinity.

Of course, they can always sit on their front verandah and admire the bright lights of the gay city (that is, when there are any lights).

Even during the war, when a strict blackout was enforced, this street light ing tax was payable. At that period the company, owing to the lighting restric tions, had a lot of spare current on its hands, and this was profitably sold to the American occupation troops. In fact, their demand for current became so great that the plant was forced to deliver more than its rated capacity in order to satisfy the Americans’ requirements.

This may be one of the reasons for its present state and the principal cause of the frequent breakdowns. One of the motors appears to be definitely out of commission, and the company is now using an American “Caterpillar” set to generate current.

Nobody seems to know how long this state of affairs is going to continue and the Condominium, although it pays a subsidy to the company, appears to be unable to do anything to rectify matters.

The town is divided into three sections, and the company has lately adopted the practice of cutting off the current for 24 hours in each section in turn. If this practice is to continue, the company will presumably apply for another increase in the price of electricity, because of the drop in revenue.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Residents of Vila would feel completely at home in Sydney, where, owing to the post-war inadequacy of the Bunnerong generating plant, black-outs are frequent, and increasing.