BENMORE HYDRO PROJECT

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28001, 22 June 1956, Page 3

BENMORE HYDRO PROJECT

ANNOUNCEMENT ‘MOST

WELCOME’

DUNEDII. BODY REPLIES TO MR GOOSMAN

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, June 21. ’Mr Goosman’s announcement that Benmore will be started next year regardless of any consideration relating to the Cook Strait cable’ is most welcome, and we presume that this is the clear statement of Government policy which the chamber requested in its letter to the Act.ngPnme Minister <Mr K. J. Holyoake).’’ said Mr J. J. O’Dea, chairman of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, last night.

“For Mr Goosman to say. however, that ‘there were no foundations to the charges of inconsistency made against me by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce’ is ridiculous. “Mr Goosman dismisses the first three statements quoted in the chamber’s letter by claiming ‘to have been most careful and consistent.’ Mr Goosman’s statements cannot be interpreted in any other way than as a direct linking of Benmore with the Cook Strait cable project.

“Mr Goosman does not attack or deny these first three statements ol the chamber, which themselves alone justify the chamber’s action,’’ said Mr O’Dea. “He does, however, attack the chamber for its use of Dunedin newspaper reports of June 8. “He describes these reports as ‘incredible.’ It is very late in the day for him to deny them. If they were not correct, it is surely the duty of a responsible Minister of the Crown to say so without delay. How otherwise are the public who are the most concerned to be informed? “It appears that Mr Goosman wishes to set himself up as adjudicator in his own case. We are content to let the people be the judge.

“Firm Statement’’ Obtained “The fact remains that whatever the Minister may say about the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce—and I do not concede the accuracy of his comments —my chamber has succeeded in obtaining a firm statement of his intentions regarding Benmore. which no-one else has been able to do. and which appears to be irrevocable. “If Mr Goosman has not been aware of the very grave misgivings that have existed in the minds of South Island people during the last several months as to the Government s intentions for Benmore. he must surely have been living in a world o! his own.’’ Mr O'Dea said. “It was rather for the purpose o 1 leading the people into the light and to resolve the doubt, that the chamber took the action it did. If the Minister’s latest statement serves the purpose of removing the people s doubts—for which he alone is to blame then the chamber has achieved its purpose.’’