THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 7

THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

NATIONALIZATION OPPOSED SPECIAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 15. Opposition to the nationalization of the electrical industry in New Zealand was expressed by the special committee in the report adopted by the New Zealand Power Boards’ and ' Supply Authorities’ Association at the annual conference today. Having given careful consideration to the results already attained by the method of control of electrical supply adopted in New Zealand and to the information available about some of the alternative methods of administration of electrical supply elsewhere the committee unanimously found that:— “(a) There is no evidence that the electrical supply in New Zealand would give better results if distribution were administered under Government control in the same way that generation and transmission are now administered.” “(b) That the available evidence of results attained under methods of electrical supply control elsewhere does not make a sufficiently strong case to conclude that any better results would necessarily be secured (under New Zealand conditions) by the adoption of any one of these alternatives to New Zealand’s present method.” “(c) That there is definite and encouraging evidence that the remarkable results achieved in the development of the retail electrical supply in New Zealand during the past 12 years are attributable to the successful administration of electrical distribution under the stimulus of local control by power boards and supply authorities.” “(d) That in conformity with the statement of the Minister that power boards and supply authorities are partners with the Government in this great national undertaking the committee submits that before any drastic change is decided upon consideration be given to the views of the electrical supply industry, expressed through the representations of the association.”