Heathcote support ‘overwhelming'

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 1

Heathcote support ‘overwhelming'

Support for the Heathcote County Council’s stand on cheaper electricity has been. overwhelming, according to the County Chairman (Mr J.- Mi McKenzie). , “I have had telephone calls of support from as far north as Whahgarei-' and as far south -as "-Winton, near Invercargill,” Mr ■ McKenzie said last evening. “I. have even had a call from, someone outside the county- in Christchurch who is prepared to start, a fund if necessary to help continue our stand. “In fact, I have heard of , only two local people who are not supporting us — they are. the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr ’ Hamish Hay) and the Mayor of Riccarton (Mr. Richard Harrington), he said. Mr Hay described the county’s refusal. to sign the. Electricity Division’s new bulk price agreement as “bulldozing tactics” and , “not very responsible.” He said that Mr '. McKenzie might be risking his council’s money and that individual councillors could be held responsible. ■“The - strong. action • may well be counter-productive and may. make the Minis’ ter of Energy (Mr Birch) even less sympathetic. Mr McKenzie might well have been better, advised to support the South Island local bodies .in their collective efforts for-, price reductions,” Mr Hay said. Mr Harrington said last evening that local body representatives on: the' Electrical Supply Authorities’ Association did as good a job as possible in negotiating with the Government for lower electricity prices,

“I would go'along with most things to ensure we get a good deal, but what the Heathcote council is doing .is a ; sort of blackmail, and I don’t think for. an instant it is going to get .anywhere with the Government,” •Mr Harrington said; ' Mr McKenzie said that the Christchurch' City Council was continuing to' pay lip- service to the people; and if it was .prepared to stand up and be counted, the price.of electricity would -definitely be reduced.

It was not simply. - a case of not paying the power bill; The county did not wish to sign an electricity price agreement which it could, not discuss with Mr Birch.

Mr Hay should not attack the actions of 'the county when Mr Birch had said a couple of months ago that he was not prepared . -to give the City Council a concession because it was using consumers’ money from electricity accounts for gen-> eral account purposes, Mr McKenzie said.

Flans were being made to keep the electricity supply to Heathcote County in the council’s; hands. These plans would, be discussed with ’ the. other ' councillors soon. They would not be publicised as . the council did not intend to forewarn any authorities. Mr O. H. Jackson, the Mayor of Greymouth and president of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association, said Mr Birch had been told that direct action would be taken if a 25 per cent reduction was not made in the cost of domestic electricity.-

. He was .not sure whether the Heathcote council’s actions were legal, and the association was not advocating direct action. However, it was all happening as predicted because many people were seething over the increased electricity prices.

'The association had been working for two i years for an oyer-all 25 : per cent cut in electricity : prices for the South Island.. So far 25 per Cent reductions had been won for industry, commerce, and tourism. A similar cut for domestic users would be sought at a conference on September 10, when local bodies would meet Government representatives.'

“It is time that each of : the local authorities put their case to the Government, .and they have been saying to the association executive to go for a 25 per cent cut overall. We have been doing as we were told, but .so far have not got this, SQ; the Heathcote council is’taking the action - it thinks appropriate, and this could spread.”, Mr Jackson said.

The North-east Christ* ; church Energy Group sup- ! ports Heathcote’s, stand, 1 according to a spokesman far the group, Mr Mike McNabb.

. “The group has been • saying for more than 12 months that the bulk price charged by the . Government is unjust and unfair,” Mr McNabb, said. ■ ' • 5 ''

“At last one local body has had the courage to stand up for the rights of the people it represents. I hope other local bodies will be prepared, to step into the front line of battle.” -v-