M.P. urges changes to energy policy

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 21

M.P. urges changes to energy policy

PA Palmerston North New Zealand’s policy ol linking indigenous energy prices with those of imported oil must be changed according to Mr J. A Walding, the Labour mem ber of Parliament foi Palmerston North. Mr Walding told the Society of Dairy Science and Technology conference that New Zealand would be well off for energy in the long term. It had big supplies of natural gas. and more hydroelectric and geo-thermal power was available. “We could become the Arabs of the South Pacific,” he said. Mr Walding said that New Zealand should have an energy policy. It would make more sense to predetermine a firm price for indigenous energy and assure New Zealand users and manufacturers that whatever the prevailing cost of Arab oil, domestic energy will be 40 per cent cheaper. This would be preferable to raising the cost to keep it in line with

I he 1980 s and rising energy costs represented a challenge to New Zealanc exporters, and the dairy industry was no exceptior he said. “Better export marketin s one of those challenges. -,lr Walding said. “Too much effort has gone into keeping tradi tional trade doors hall open, and not enough effort has gone into pushing products through trade doors that are wide open. "We must continue our efforts to maintain access to the E.E.C.. the United States, and Japan, but not at the expense of losing opportunities where there are no similar restrictions,” he said. New Zealand sold every bit of meat and wool it could produce, Mr Walding said, so greater production and productivity in the primary sector should be emphasised. The challenge of lamb marketing problems would also have to be accepted, he said. “The New Zealand pro-

dm er will be more competitive with the rising cost of energy increasing out-of-season production in the torthern hemisphere,” Mr Valding said. “If that added cost to heir producers is greatei han the added cost of transport, it is a challengmg opportunity. “We must examine closely such changing cir„- - umstances if we are to take full advantage of our export potential." No other country had New Zealand's advantages in dairying. Mr Walding said. Without competent scientific backing, neither the dairy industry nor New Zealand would prosper.