Consultant Reticent On Gas Use

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31047, 30 April 1966, Page 14

Consultant Reticent On Gas Use

(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, April 29. The Government’s consultant on the use of Kapuni natural gas, Mr J. G. Shattuck, today began a two-day study of the New Plymouth City Council’s gas undertaking, to list the needs and problems arising if the undertaking was converted for natural gas. Mr Shattuck was very reluctant to talk about the Government’s long-awaited decision on the use of the gas.

Asked if his inspection tended to indicate that the Government did plan to reticulate the gas to North Island undertakings, he referred to a statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Holy-

oake) after a caucus meeting on Friday, March 18. Mr Holyoake then said: “Everybody has taken the stand that if the gas can be used as a premium fuel, it will result in twice as much benefit to the country.” Mr Shattuck said he was an adviser to both the Government and the undertakings. He would not comment on who was likely to have to meet the cost of gas appliance conversion to natural gas. Mr Shattuck said he represented the Government in the study. The nine North Island gas undertakings which would be involved in a gas reticulation would all be studied.

A preliminary investigation of the conversion costs had already been reported to the concerns, said Mr Shattuck. His present study was to determine “which things need to be done and at which times.”

The study would take into account both the things needed for the property of the undertaking, and those for the consumer’s appliances. Much investigation was needed on each of the gas undertakings to determine the exact physical work to be done in conversion.