The Press FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1958. Unnecessary Delay?

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28671, 22 August 1958, Page 10

The Press FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1958. Unnecessary Delay?

The Government seems determined to make the people pay for its own indiscretions. In the- White Paper on power development tabled in Parliament, the Minister of State Electricity (Mr Watt) has made what seem unnecessary and unjustified changes in the comprehensive long-term policy announced last year by a committee of experts, approved by supply authorities and consultants, and adopted by the National Party Government. The core of the plan was the construction of Benmore, with a capacity of 480,000 kw, and a cable across Cook Strait to supply power to the North Island, which, even with the construction of all proved hydro-electric schemes and the development of the Wairakei geothermal station, is threatened with a serious power shortage after 1963. The policy received rough treatment at the hands of the Labour Party when in Opposition; and when the Opposition became the Government it felt obliged to change it. investigations have been made into the possibility of alternative sources of generation, both geothermal and nuclear, so that the Government could justify changes in the plan; but, as the White Paper recognises, these sources will not fill New Zealand’s requirements. The only alternative to losing face was to make changes in the proposals for hydro-electric development to give some form of notice that the Government is not yet ready to embrace the Cook Strait cable it so actively spurned. Accordingly, all works connected with the cable are to be deferred for a year and

greater attention is to be given to the possibility of developing hydro-electric schemes in jthe North Island, in spite of doubts whether they will be economic. It is significant, however, that work on Benmore, which is far too large and expensive for the South Island’s needs alone, is to continue, while the Government’s aversion to the cable did not prevent it laying a trial length in the strait earlier this year.

The previous power*scheme also laid down short-term plans to increase the North Island capacity until the Cook Strait cable was available, though it conceded that there would be a shortage in the North Island after 1963. Mr Watt has also altered these plans and it is questionable whether the full development of Wairakei, the completion of the Aratiatia station before the winter of 1964, and the duplication of Maraetai will justify the abandonment of the Korokoro gas turbine station, which was to begin operating in 1962. But even if his estimates are correct, the North Island will be short of power in 1965, when Benmore is due to begin operating. The delay of a year in the Cook Strait cable seems to ensure -at least another year’s shortage for the North Island. The White Paper makes it quite clear that there is no intention of abandoning the cable. “ It is realistic “ to say ”, says Mr Watt, “ that “ in 12 months the Govemrrfent “ will make another review of “ the development programme “in hand ”, Mr Watt is in error. It would only be realistic if the Government made the review now.