POWER FOR INDUSTRY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 16

POWER FOR INDUSTRY

“Direct From State” (WJ6. Pres* Anoctuttowl WELLINGTON, Mat. 7. Export industries should be able to get their electricity direct from the State, a former Minister of Electricity (Mr Watt) said today. Speaking to the annual conference of the North Island Electrical Workers' Union, Mr Watt said he was sure that the country needed to get away from the supply authority system of distribution. “I don’t see why we should go through supply authorities and force up costs of production,'* he said, “when we are trying to find export markets.” Referring to the agreements made by the Government granting water rights to Cotnalco in the South Island to produce its own power, he said he understood the company was having trouble in financing the first stage. "We should offer power to them from Benmore at cost in order to get the smelter going. They can give it back later,” said Mr Watt. The industry was too important not to be helped. There were other industries, too. that should get cheap power, especially if they were prepared to go where they were wanted in the South Island, in particular. About the water rights agreement Mir Watt said: “Thank goodness I took it through Parliament and noone is arguing about it”