ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 10

ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

NATIONALISATION OPPOSED VIEWS OF POWER BOARDS [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. Opposition to the nationalisation of the electrical industry in New Zealand was expressed by a special committee in a report adopted by the New Zealand Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association at the annual conference to-day. Having given careful consideration to the results already attained by the method of control of electrical supply adopted in New Zealand and to 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 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 the results attained under the 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 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 the power boards and supply authorities. (d) That in conformity with the statement of the Minister that tht» 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. GROUP COMMISSIONERS MR. PURNELL’S SUGGESTION. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. A suggestion that Government activities, particularly generation, transmission and bulk sales, should be administered by group commissioners, was made by Mr. F. Purnell, when the nationalisation of the electrical services was discussed at the Power Boards Conference. “We think the time has arrived when that should be done and the commissioners who should be appointed are those having high technical skill and knowledge, and they should be assisted by other commissioners having administrative and commercial skill and knowledge—a combination of the two,” said Mr. Purnell. “If we can introduce this

change in control, may W suggest that at present the chief f r i.rical engineer, Mr. Kissel, be appointed Chief Commissioner.”