Council squashes power ‘back-off’

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 1

Council squashes power ‘back-off’

An attempt by a mem-' ber ' of the Heathcote County Council to<.defuse the' row over -power.charges was defeated last evening. , . ’ - ;; Cr J. Richardson told a meeting of the council’s electrical .committee, last. evening that he would not be a . party - to any direct action, such as the nonpayment- of accounts.- "We " must make sure our stand is-not going to misfire and we, Jose, out.. in the long. run,” he said. ' ' 17 Ct Richardson proposed a recommendation that; "The electrical committee places on record ho intention of defaulting prompt payment of. power jptjrchases, but will ' continue to seek, with the electricity department, ways to ease the 'peak Ibad charges as they affect the council; ' “If the county is not going to , pay . for its power, what is going to happen if Mrs Brown, or a

private contractor,, decides ■■ not to pay his.' bill?” Cr. Richardson asked. The County Chainnan .(Mr,. j.'M. McKenzie) accused Cr Richardsbn' ,pf trying ,to break, the, solidarity of; the' ■ council' by proposing a doubtful resolution. “This red herring should be treated with the contempt it deserves,” he - -said;---""-' ■ Mr McKenzie reiterated that the council was only seeking .the right /to. negotiate, and that it had' not refused; to .pay: ; its -.power bill. Its , decision;, was/ to refuse to sign a bulk sup-< ply agreementwith the Electricity Division of the Ministry • of. Energy. ■ « ; Cr Richardson’s recommendation was defeated at the endi of the ' 40-minute debate. : Labour’s mayoral■ candidate for Christchurch, (Mrs Molly . Clark);,/said .J last evening that a new Labour council; would fight the central government to re-

duce . domestic electricity charges 25 per cent before .next winter. Mrs Clark, addressing a meeting in the city along with Labour’s North Ward candidates said: “Christchurch’s chronic pollution problems have increased •as . a direct. result of increased electricity charges over the last four years.” ’' Cr" Clark indicated her approval of the Heathcote council’s fight against ris- , ing- electricity charges by saying . she expected to negotiate with the Govern-ment-'over/ .price rises rather than have terms dictated by it. ;. //•/• “The. present memorandum of agreement is just a sham. Central government just drops the price' on you, while, they negotiate with "large overseas companies to supply '■ electricity at ; low rates,” ’she said. ? .Mrs Clark said she would not sign an agreement without negotiation.