Clean-air zone order expected

Press, 6 July 1977, Page 6

Clean-air zone order expected

PA Wellington An Order-iii-Council is expected to be gazetted soon to make the Christchurch a clean-air zone. The Minister of Energy Resources (Mr Gair) said yesterday that the Clean Air Act provided the framework for action on the type of pollution experienced in Christchurch, and the Christ- | church City Council had [taken advantage of this in [asking a clean-air zone to be 'established in its area. | “An Order-in-Council to i this effect is expected to be gazetted soon.” Mr Gair said. He was replying to a written Parliamentary question by Mrs M. D. Batchelor (Lab., Avon) asking for an assuranc that immediate action would be taken to provide a cheaper rate of electricity to Christchurch in an effort to [alleviate the dependence on .open fires in the city.

The Minister said that apart from efficient enclosed

space-heaters burning solid fuel, electricity already had the lowest retail price in relation to the useful energy obtained, of any form of energy available for use in Christchurch homes. “No further incentive for its use, in preference to other forms of energy, is therefore warranted,” Mr Gair said.

The philosophy behind the pricing of electricity in New Zealand was that the whole country was treated as one. he said.

No supply authority or , region would therefore be given preferential treatment. “However there is nothing to prevent any supply authority including such a provision in its own domestic tariff if it considers this to be justified, Mr Gair said. "At present, the domestic tariff in Christchurch is one of the lower tariffs in New Zealand, and thus would not inhibit any person wishing to convert to electric heating,” he said.