INTERFERENCE TO INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25139, 21 March 1947, Page 6

INTERFERENCE TO INDUSTRY

MR HOLLAND MAKES SUGGESTION

JOINT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER CRISIS

A suggestion that a special committee of the House of Representatives should be set up to Consider the North Island electric power situation was made to the Government yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland). Making this suggestion in a telegram to the senior Minister at present in Wellington (Mr D. G. Sullivan) , Mr Holland said that, had Parliament been sitting, he would nave taken steps to ensure that the matter was fully discussed.

The telegram stated:— “I am informed that the Prime Minister is visiting centres of Maori population and that the Minister of Works is also absent from Wellington so I desire to make the following representations to the Government through you as senior Minister in Wellington. From many parts of New Zealand, but particularly from the North Island, I have received strong representation*

concerning the grave crisis existing in connexion with the supply of electricity. “The representations are that the gravest interference with the smooth and efficient running of both primary and manufacturing industries is being experienced and a serious reduction in output is inevitable, especially in those industries where continuous supplies of power are essential. "I have also received representations to say that many thousands of housewives are being hindered and handicapped by the irregularity and low power of electric supply. “Had Parliament been in session, as it should be, I should have taken steps to ensure that the whole question was fully thrashed out on the floor of the House so that the public would have known the facts of the situation. In the absence of an opportunity for public discussion in Parliament. I therefore urge that a committee of equal representation, I suggest six, from both sides of the House be convened immediately, to meet in Wellington, to consider the whole facts associated with the crisis and to decide what is best to dp to remedy matters and to avoid a repetition in future.”

COLLIER DELAYED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 20. Further aggravation of the already serious electric power situation occurred to-day when the bar at Westport became unworkable for the first time this month, resulting in delay to the collier Kakapo, which has on board 1400 tons for the King's wharf generating station at Auckland. It was thought possible she would be able to sail on the evening tide at 9 p.m. So far the state of the bar has not affected colliers in the West Coast-Welling-ton trade, the Kaimai having got away from Westport just before conditions became too bad.