CHARGES FOR POWER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 14

CHARGES FOR POWER

Provision For Arbitration (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 23. Negotiations between electric power boards and municipal corporations on prices for electricity had, in several cases, been fruitless and had come to a dead end, said the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) during the second reading debate of a Finance Bill in the House of Representatives today. Mr Nash said the Taranaki, South Canterbury, North Canterbury and Waimea power boards were among those that had disputes on their hands. In one case there had been litigation, but it had been found that the Courts had no jurisdiction. The bill provided that any disagreements should be submitted * to arbitration. Mr W. S. Goosman (Opposition Piako) said he thought local authorities should pay about 10 per cent, above the price being paid by the boards for bulk power. There were cases where one town was on power board supply while another nearby had its own supply. There was often disparity in prices. Municipal authorities had small, thicklypopulated areas and if they were taken out of power board areas this put up the cost of power in sparsely-populated regions. Mr A. E. Allen (Opposition. Franklin) said it was often found that people paying low prices also paid high rates. Arbitration should, however, offer a solution to the current problems. The bill was read a second time.