Are Up Again

Suva’s Electricity Rates Are Up Again

THE Suva Electricity Undertaking which reduced charges for electricity last year has this year increased them again.

The new rates will be in operation from August 1.

In some cases the new rates are those of the 1949 period. In others, they come mid-way between those charged last year and those of 1949.

The Mayor, Sir Alport Barker, in announcing the new rates, said that he had been too optimistic when he reduced them last year. It had been shown that those charges did not leave sufficient margin for depre ciation.

Sir Alport recalled that when the Electricity Undertaking first began to supply light and power in 1920 (it was generated by a “second hand suction gas plant”) light cost 1 - per unit and power 6d., plus a meter rent of 1/- per month.

The rates for domestic lighting from August 1 will be sid. per unit and power 2£d. It can therefore be said that in this instance things

are still somewhat better than in the “good old days.”

Suva’s electricity supply suffers from the world-wide complaint of being unable to cope with demand.

New plant is on order from the United Kingdom but its arrival is uncertain. The Mayor says that it will not be this year.

The famous old radio towers that “reach for the sky” in Pago Pago, American Samoa, for 30 years, are to go. A party of Seabees in July began dismantling the 500ft. steel structures, for removal.