'Power Shortages If Imports Cut’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 3

' Power Shortages If Imports Cut’

(New Zealand Press Association! AUCKLAND. June 27. It would be a strange state of affairs if the Government’s import licensing policy prevented the distribution of electricity being generated by the Government, said the president of the Electrical Supply Authorities’Association (Mr A. W. Gooder).

Mr Gooder said in a letter to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) that the prospect of a reduction in special import licences for reticulation materials for supply authorities was particularly serious and required urgent action.

In reply Mr Marshall said there was difficulty in finding the substantially increased

i funds involved in | meeting the scheduled requirements of all the authorities.

' The letter was read today, j at a meeting of the Auckland | [ Electric Power Board, of I : which Mr Gooder is chair- : man. Mr Gooder said he believed! [import licences issued fori : reticulation materials last 1 I year amounted to £4 million. “I am informed that Government policy was to restrict the issue of special licences to 85 per cent of last year’s imports—a figure of about £3.2 mllion,” he said. “As the industry's require- ! ments are £5 million this I amounts to a cut of about 136 per cent. ! “It appears that the issue ! of some special licences is already delayed for investigaj tion by the department. ( “With the late delivery of I urgently required material j which will result from these! (delays, a breakdown in some; ; part of the distribution seems ! inevitable at an early date. “I strongly recommend that, the importation of reticulation materials for electrical; supply authorities be released! from import licensing so that) (the present unnecessary de-| lays and future shortages.; which are looming, may be 1 [avoided," the letter said. | In reply Mr Marshall said! ! he realised the difficulties fac- | ing the supply authorities. I He said rising trends ini copper prices were not mak-l ing the problems easier. His department was seeking advice from the Electricity Department and would collaborate with the authorities to ensure that the most pressing import needs in 1966-67' were covered.