Rumours of electricity staff shift scotched

Press, 24 October 1984, Page 5

Rumours of electricity staff shift scotched

PA Wellington Rumours of relocation of Electricity Division staff resulting from a present review of the division are premature, says the Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard. Commenting on a newspaper report from Dunedin that large numbers of Electricity Division staff were apprehensive about their futures, Mr Tizard said that decisions had not been made “and won’t be made for some time”. “Over a fair period of time there could be some movement of staff from some areas to others. However, no decisions have yet been taken in that regard, and it is much too premature for people to start getting worried about such things.” The review was designed to establish the proposed

basis around which the Electricity Division could be reorganised. Mr Tizard described it as "an asset management review”. He said that the review had been in progress since June, but had its origins in the formation of the Ministry of Energy six years ago. Since then ways of incorporating the “limbs” of the Ministry, such as Electricity and Mines divisions, had been examined so they could more properly be considered as part of the Ministry, instead of their previous roles as separate departments. The same process had also been applied to the oil and gas divisions. He said that unions were being involved in the process and no decisions would be made without involving the Public Service Association.