Clyde dam

Press, 21 May 1982, Page 12

Clyde dam

Sir,—How typical that the Government is going to change the rules because the High Court has come, up with a decision it disagrees with. They are willing to pass special legislation to force construction of a dam which is not needed. Is is obvious that if the high dam at Clyde is built and the proposed second smelter is cancelled, we will have electricity wasting. The Cook Strait cable is carrying to capacity, and even without the Clyde dam the South Island will have sufficient electricity for normal growth, according to latest figures. And it is no good building the dam in advance as a hedge against inflation because we have to pay such high interest on the money borrowed to finance construction. Interest charges will be added to people’s power bills. Why should the New Zealand electricity consumers pay vast amounts of interest to finance a dam not needed this century? — Yours, etc.. V. H. NELSON. May 18, 1982.

Sir,—“The Press” of May 19 reported that the Government is considering five possible courses of action with regard to obtaining legitimate water rights for the Clyde dam. Sir, it should be obvious to the government that last Thursday’s High Court decision ethically obliges them to take the water rights application back to the Planning Tribunal because the High Court ruled that the end use of the power should be considered. The public must beware of this Government as it has so often proved itself not above flying in the face of what is ethical when supported by a myth of “national importance” that lies not in the public mind but between the ears of National Party caucus members. Sir, the public does not want a government that makes up the rules as it goes along and any such high-handed action must be political suicide.— Yours, etc., JOHN CRUDEN. May 20, 1982.