Heathcote firm on power stand

Press, 26 September 1980, Page 4

Heathcote firm on power stand

The Heathcote County Council has reaffirmed its stand not to sign its bulk-electricity supply contract with the Government after an offer by the Minister of Energy, Mr Birch, to discuss the matter.

In a letter to the council, Mr Birch said he would not negotiate on the bulk-power! price but that he was pre-i pared to meet the council if j the threat not to sign the contract was withdrawn. The County Chairman (Mr J. M. McKenzie) rejected the offer. He said the Govern-! jnent’s stand was appalling; and a disgrace. “It is another example of trying to bludgeon the New Zealand public into acceptance of something by mere force,” he told a council meeting last evening. The only justification given to the public for successive power-price rises appeared to be that the previous Labour government had not made such in-; creases. That was "tripe.” '' i : “I don’t believe you have; to keep charges low for! political expedience but II say enough is enough,” said| Mr McKenzie.

I The Ministry of Energy had made a profit this year, [after capital costs had been [met, of S5O million. It was i clear that it had more than balanced the budget. Mr Birch said that he viewed the council’s stand with concern “in particular; ion behalf of horticulturists ; within the county, and 1 ‘would be happy to see these horticulturists.” The council should have discussions with officials of the Ministry. “It is no more practical for me to negotiate with individual supply authorities than it is for supply authorities to negotiate with individual consumers.” said Mr Birch.

“If your council is prepared to withdraw the threat not to sign the bulk agreement, I would be prepared to meet you on some suitable occasion when I have returned from overseas.” Mr McKenzie said he was

disappointed that Mr Birch had apparently not been challenged by local-body representatives in Christchurch when he had announced a _9 per cent rise in bulk tarriffs at a meeting of the Electrical Supply Authorities’ Association in the Town Hall on 'Wednesday. However, after Mr Birch had left the “bleating over the increase had started.” The council voted six to one to reaffirm its earlier decision not to sign the contract until it has been negotiated. Cr P. E. Prebble, who said she opposed "militancy,” voted against the motion.

Mr McKenzie said it would be a “miscarriage of faith” to power consumers in Heathcote if the stand was not continued by the next council after the localbody elections.