Enough Water For Power Till 1970s

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30453, 29 May 1964, Page 3

Enough Water For Power Till 1970s

(Neto Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 28. New Zealand may have to start planning the construction of a thermal power station in the early 19705, the Minister of Electricity (Air Shand) said today.

He said this assessment was based on the present knowledge of New Zealand’s hydro resources and projecting the present very high rate of increase in annual demand.

Mr Shand was commenting on a statement by the chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board (Mr A. W Gooder) that “research into the economic and technical aspects of nuclear power could not be safely delayed."

Mr Shand said on the most pessimistic assessment of the country’s hydro-electricity potential, requirements for power could be met from this source for another 12 to 15 years. There were two coalfields which offered prospects for the production of power, but

it was, as yet, too early to say that development should precede or be concurrent with the development of nuclear power stations. A more detailed assessment of the remaining untapped hydro-electric and geothermal resources was an urgent priority. He said he would agree with Mr Gooder to the extent that it would be important before the time comes to construct nuclear power stations to build up a body of scientific knoweldge in New Zealand in this field. “But, at the moment, even in the nuclear field there are questions of more immediate and urgent importance to New Zealand, •’-riicularly in the use of ra isotopes,” said Mr Shand.