Opposition ‘uneasy’ still about oil

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33413, 20 December 1973, Page 3

Opposition ‘uneasy’ still about oil

I (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 19. The Opposition has again called for morel (Government action toi meet the oil crisis. Mr L. W. Gandar, OppoIsition spokesman on energy! resources, said today that (when the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Marshall) called 1 on Monday for information ( land a clear lead from the Government, he was echoing the thoughts of most New? Zealanders. A more positive reply i could have been expected from the Government than that given by the Minister of (Energy Resources (Mr Freer).. “Many questions need to I be answered if the present! (uneasiness is to be put to ; “ rest.” said Mr Gandar in a. * statement. ( “New Zealand imports; (about a quarter of its petrol; direct from overseas, includ-i ing all our aviation fuels. “Why has the aviation ’industry been singled out, then, for complete control when some imported petrol is used by New Zealand in motor cars?” Mr Gandar said people were entitled to know how much energy was being saved bv the Government's decision 1 not to use oil-fuelled power stations. I j It should say how much I

jwinter-storage water was (being used now in the hydro! I system, and how much oil; would normally have been ! used at this time. Mr Gandar said that given; (the facts, industry, transport,l (and farmers would not panic,’ and in all probability would give the greatest co-operation. It should not be left to oil .'companies to institute rationing of industrial fuels. Priorities could be set only (by the Government, and for; (this reason farmers, orchard-’ (ists, irrigationists, and rural ■ transport operators as well as industry must be assured; (there would be no cessation' (of fuel in the New Year. BUNKER OIL Mr Gandar said bunkering; for the New Zealand shipping; trade should likewise not be (left to oil company decisions,! and priorities in export ship-; ping might have to be set bv. (the Government. Wool and timber could be: (stored in New Zealand, but! (New Zealand had limited; ■ storage for meat and dairy I (products. “Processing and production; of these products is con- : jtinuous, and they cannot be arbitrarily suspended.” he ■said. Mr Gandar said that when in opposition Labour had made great play of its intention to inform the people. “Their performance as Government would be pitiful if it were not so dangerous,” he said. “If the situation is as.

serious as we are led to iibelieve, let the Government! I ■ act now. “To wait until a Cabinet meeting in late January is ■pussyfooting, and makes me ,1 suspect that all must wait until the Prime Minister returns from his journey. , "Mr Marshall’s call for information must be heeded,” (Mr Gandar said. The Minister of Energy Resources should be getting ■■stuck into the job of working out priorities and doing the forward planning for the best use of petrol and oil, instead (of making cheap political ■jibes which harked back to the past and which were incorrect and irrelevant, Mr Marshall said tonight. I "The public are interested (in what the Government is (going to do about the oil (problem, not in what was or, (was not done in the past,”; (Mr Marshall said. “An immediate problem is i That of allocation of sufficient (fuel oil for farmers to get; (haymaking and harvesting (done. “The present policy is too ■ (rigid, and some farmers can- ! not get enough fuel oil. “It is not good enough to ( say that farmers can have as much this year as they had at the same time last year. Last year there was a drought, and little hay. "This year we have had a much better growth. In any ( case, the pattern of farm activities changes from year ( .to year,” Mr Marshall said. I