CARBIDE PROJECT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 14

CARBIDE PROJECT

Power Supply “Confusion* (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Dec. 1« ; The statement by the Minister of Electricity (Mr Goosman) in Parliament last week that the proposers of a calcium carbide industry at Westport had not yet made application for power from the national grid at cheap rates did nothing to clarify the situation faced by the companies. Wilkins and Davies. Ltd., and the Goodrich Company, which apparently thought they had made adequate application to the Department of Industries and Commerce and to Mr Goosman many months ago. In June, Mr Goosman announced that the Government had granted water rights to streams near Westport to the firms so that they could generate their own power at a price which would make the industry economic. The firms were then understood to have asked for this only because their requests for power, made in many letters and personal representations, had been declined.

Although the firms still believe in the practicability of the proposed industry, the apparent denial of what they understood to be an earlier refusal can only mean confusion and uncertainty over their prospects and this will not assist in the smooth planning of an industry. But it could suggest that the Government is prepared to change the earlier decision against special power rates.