Sir John Marshall a Comalco consultant

Press, 11 April 1977, Page 3

Sir John Marshall a Comalco consultant

PA Wellington. A former Prime Minister (Sir John Marshall) has confirmed that “for some months now” he has been retained as a consultant by Comalco, Ltd, the “Eventing Post’s” political correspondent says. The company, which runs the Bluff aluminium smelter, has been involved in long-running negotiations with the Government on the issue of bulk power costs from the Manapouri scheme. The negotiations are as yet unresolved. The Government, which wants to increase the price of electricity supplied to the smelter, is now considering Comalco proposals. The proposals are in reply to a letter from the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) asking the company to present the full scope of proposals that it con-

siders should be made for a higher power price within the original agreement between the two parties. Sir John was a key figure in the Government’s original negotiations with the company in the 19605, when the agreement between the two parties, involving construction of the Manapouri power station was drawn up. He left politics 18 month ago after his decision not to stand at the General Election in November, 1975. Yesterday, Sir John said his retention by Comalco as a consultant was “a professional appointment.” He was now practising law, and was being consulted in this capacity, as a partner in the Wellington legal firm of Buddle, Anderson and Kent and Company. Asked if he felt there was any conflict of inter-

est between this consultancy and his previous involvement as a Cabinet Minister, he said: “Not at all. I believe the original contract (with Comalco) should be honoured. If changes are to be made, they should be made by mutual agreement, not by unilateral action.” Questioned as to the stage he felt negotiations had reached, he said the talks were progressing but that there was a long way to go yet. Comalco’s corporate manager in New Zealand, Mr Mervyn Bennett, said yesterday Sir John had not been involved in “head-to-head” talks and was unlikely to be so involved. The next meeting between the company and Government officials was “about a month away,” he said.