Gas Pipe To Wellington?

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 1

Gas Pipe To Wellington?

(N.Z Press Association) WELLINGTON. August 5. The Minister of Electricity and Mines (Mr Shand) hinted tonight that natural gas from Kapuni might be piped to Wellington. He told a gathering marking the reopening of the Wellington Gas Company’s reconstructed offices that he hoped natural gas would be vsed by householders in Wellington. particularly the new areas. It was important that fuels other than electricity be used to the greatest extent possible to take the load' from the

country’s electricity resources. , The Minister this week received the final report on the use of natural gas from the Government’s American advisers, Zinder and Associates, whose executive, Mr J. G. Shattuck, left Wellington for the United States tonight For the last eight months Mr Shattuck has been carrying out a marketing survey of gas in New Zealand and is thought to have recommended that the Government proceed with plans to pipe Kapuni gas to Auckland and | Wellington. : At tonight’s function, the ■"hainnan of the Wellington I Gas Company (Mr A. T. [Young) said he had been [told that Kapuni gas had a [potential equal to all the i eight hydro-electric stations

lat present operating on the Waikato river. It would cost a comparatively few million pounds to develop and deliver this gas. Mr Young said about £483 million was to be spent in the next 10 years by the Government in developing electricity. “I am quite serious in suggesting the very real economy to be effected by spending a few million on Kapuni," Mr Young said. The findings of Mr Shattuck would probably be discussed '.n Monday by the Cabinet, Mr Shand said tonight. No details could be released until they had been discussed fully by the Cabinet, he said. He expected the report would be tabled soon in Parliament