MINISTER’S ASSURANCE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30213, 19 August 1963, Page 12

MINISTER’S ASSURANCE

No Repetition Of Destruction (N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, August 18. An assurance that the scenic attractions of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau would be preserved after the raising of water levels for tfhe new hydro-electric power scheme was given by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) at a National Party forum in Gore on Saturday night. When the Government signed an agreement with Comal co in 1959-60 to supply electric power for an aluminium smelter, the cost of scenic preservation was written into the agreement, Mr Taiboys said. The clause was included to prevent a repetition of the destruction of scenery at Monowai and Waikaremoana, he said. In the Manapouri scheme, bush will be cleared for the full extent of the rise and fall in lake levels caused by hydro-electric operation. Mr Taiboys said he was absolutely certain that far more people would see the two lakes during the scheme than had ever seen them in the past The project was creating greatly increased interest in the two lakes, he said. In reply to a question as to whether the project could become another "ghost scheme." Mr Taiboys said there was no definite agreement that an aluminium smelter would be established in Southland.

But the project would provide such a cheap source of electric power that if the Cotnalco agreement was terminated the hydro-electric project would itself be a tremendous attraction to other industry. Only industries such as aluminium smelting required electric power in such huge quantities and the cost of the electricity was a major factor He said he believed a tenth of a penny rise in the cost of of a unit would add £8 a ton to the cost of the final product A demand throughout the work! tor aluminium was increasing and if Comalco did not establish an industry in Southland someone else would. Mr Taiboys said.