Cheap Power For Carbide Industry

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29907, 22 August 1962, Page 14

Cheap Power For Carbide Industry

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 21. The Government had agreed to make available cheap power if the company investigating the calcium carbide industry on the West Coast found that it was an economic proposition, said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) in the House of Representatives today.

He was replying to Mr P. Blanchfield (Opposition. Westland), w(ho had asked during the debate on the vote for the Industries and Commerce Department what progress was being made with the establishment of the industry. “They are in the process of investigating that source.” said Mr Marshall. Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opposition. Nelson): Is there any guarantee that it will be cheap power? Mr Marshall: That is what we are investigating.

Asked if power could not be obtained economically the industry would be connected to the South Island grid. Mr Marshall replied: “We have in general a policy of cheap power for industry.” He agreed that the price would have to be around 3d a unit. Mr Marshall told Mr Blanchfield the Government had allocated the necessary foreign exchange for the import of equipment for the

establishment of plywood and chipboard industries on the West Coast.

“They have the authority and the approval of the Government to go ahead.” said Mr Marshall.