Areas Without Power

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 3

Areas Without Power

Sir—Mr Goosman has told the i Electric Supply Authorities that , “Kaikoura and Coromandel are i the last two substantial areas in (New Zealand without power.” He [has forgotten South Westland, south-west from Hokitika, between the Alps and the sea. We ' know that Mr Goosman has no intention of supplying Whataroa with hydro-electric power. But will he give the people of Whataroa. who want to help themselves in this matter, the same facilities that the Government quite rightly gives the State Hydro-electric i Department? In particular, no ■ annual licence fee for power deI velopment, no customs duty or sales tax on materials, plant or [equipment, no income tax, and the maximum possible assistance in finance or in raising loans? People in that district have long been doing their share through taxation in building up power supply for the rest of New Zealand. They should not be penalised for living in South Westland.—Yours, etc., ARTHUR LUSH. October 11, 1957. ("Mr Lush refers to my address given to the annual conference of the Electrical Supply Authorities' Association, recently held at Rotorua,” the Minister in charge of the State Hydro-electric Depart- . ment (Mr W. S. Goosman) said i.i answer to the letter. “It is a fact that Coromandel and Kaikoura are the only two substantially populated areas without power in New Zealand. The State Hydro-electric Department pays customs duty and sales tax on material, plant and equipment and. up to the present time, income tax when such is payable. The residents in the Whataroa area have not paid a penny piece through taxation or in any other manner in building up power supply for the rest of New Zealand Within the limits of the authority given the department by the Government, every assistance has been given to the Whataroa area in providing its own electric hydro-power supply.’']