Dam sitting cancelled

Press, 13 September 1982, Page 6

Dam sitting cancelled

Parliamentary reporter

One person has so far asked to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee considering the Clyde dam bill.

As a result, the special committee set up to consider the bill has cancelled its first sitting, planned for Wednesday.

Ten written submissions have been received by the secretary of the committee, but only one person has asked to be present to argue his submission before the committee.

The committee secretary, Mr N. S. Rogers, said on Friday that some of “the more’critical groups” were expected to make submissions by the time of the closing date for submissions, also Wednesday. The committee, chaired by the member for Marl-

borough, Mr D. L. Kidd, cancelled the first sitting because three or four groups needed to appear before a committee to make a sitting worth while, he said. It could not be assumed that more groups would ask to appear in time for the committee to examine their submissions and prepare questions, he said. The committee would sit the next week.

The Clutha Development (Clyde dam) Empowering Bill was referred to a select committee last month, and submissions opened on August 24. Interested groups have had three weeks to prepare submissions, the standard period given to any bill before a select committee.

The National Parks Amendment Bill received more than 400 submissions, and many bills receive scores of submissions.