Clutha criticism factual

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33563, 18 June 1974, Page 19

Clutha criticism factual

(y Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, National Party criticism of the report of the Clutha Valley Development Commission was a factual criticism, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Marshall) in reply to the comments of the chairman (Mr R. J, Calvert),

"Mr Calvert complains that tt is bringing politics into the issue,” said Mr Marshall. "Of course this is a political issue. It always has been. This is what politics is all about. “Mr Calvert, a former Labour Mayor o£ Dunedin is a political appointee. He had a restricted order of reference laid down by the Labour Government which prevented his commission making recommendations outside the limits of this order of reference.

"They were prevented by a political decision from using the waters of Lake Wanaka as storage,” said Mr Marshall Mr Calvert had said that only 12| acres of Cromwell would be flooded, but this included the greater part of the shopping and business sectors of this town. The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) had said that he would never agree to Cromwell’s being flooded.

USE OF LAKE “Mr Calvert tries to justify the recommendations that the proposed scheme will not generate continuous power but will be available at times

'of peak load,” said Mr Mari shall. ' “This decision is imposed i on him bv the decision of the Government not to allow the use of the waters of Lake Wanaka. “This could be used as; ’ storage without with the natural levels of the lake, which the National; Party promises to protect. “But if the waters of the I Clutha could be used for con-

tinuous power it would clearly be a much better, amjj more economical use of the' power resources of the fiver.” Mr Marshall said these; were all fair and legitimate criticisms on matters which would be remedied by a National Government. “The National Party, in addition would also use the resources of the lower Clutha; for low-level dams and the most economical production; of power on the Clutha.” :