Source: Tweed Daily
URL: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/195085035
Date: 12/02/1947
Event: "Half Britain went back to the Victorian era as vital electric current was cut off"
Credit: Tweed Daily, Trove (National Library of Australia)
TWEED DAILY - FEB 12, 1947
BLIZZARDS RETURN TO ENGLAND
Freezing Weather In London
LONDON, Tuesday: Blizzards in the North and Midlands, and the Black [sic] Forest in the Southern Counties, ushered in Britain's second day of light and power cuts.
The short-lived thaw yesterday only served to melt the snow from the roofs. The temperature In London early today was again several degrees below freezing point.
Upwards of 12 inches of snow had fallen in the north. Frost in the south hardened the thawing snow, turning the roads into sheets of ice.
The first of 48 colliers which have been stormbound at northeastern ports for the past two days headed into the raging North Sea at dawn today with coal for London.
Thousands in London offices got their "blitz candles" and hurricane lamps out of store and began work in unheated offices with scarves wound round their necks.
They gloomily studied the weather forecast, promising more blizzards, snow and frost. Millions of idle workers elsewhere stayed at home.
Sir Guy Nott-Bower (Departmental Secretary to the Fuel Ministry) said Britain's fuel position would be extremely acute in the next 12 months, and the Government was considering further restrictions including long term restrictions on luxury trades and the use of electric fires and appliances.
He said the public was responding very well to the "save fuel'' appeal, but there were still some "grey" spots.
The London Power Company reported that coal consumption might be down a quarter or one-fifth.
Publication of at least two consecutive issues of all periodicals will be suspended after Saturday.
The London Passenger Transport Board has announced drastic reductions in tram and trolley bus services.
The board will cancel underground trains according to decline in traffic.
The Royal Mint has closed for the duration of the emergency.
Half Britain went back to the Victorian era as vital electric current was cut off.