NEED for CAUTION

Forest and Bird, Issue 139, 1 February 1961, Page 14

NEED for CAUTION

Financed by one or two of the world’s greatest industrial institutions, the aluminium industry is definitely coming to New Zealand to use the waters of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau for the generation of power. It is well that several years are likely to elapse before the final production stage is reached. By that time the values of the lakes in an unspoiled state as scenic and recreational gems and tourist attractions might be seen in their true perspective when compared with the production of aluminium, and perhaps wise council will prevail to save the lakes from despoliation by flooding.

Few will argue that the acquisition of a huge aluminium manufacturing industry will not bring considerable benefits of one sort or another to New Zealand. Obviously it will, especially in its initial stages. There is, however, considerable doubt whether the optimistic forecast of those in authority will ever be realised. In our August issue we pointed out that big commercial institutions exist to make profits for their shareholders, not for the New Zealand Government, and indicated that knowledgeable people considered the expected income decidedly nebulous. In a letter to the Dominion on Friday, 25th November last, Mr. G. M. Neutze, of the Department of Economics, Australian National University, Canberra, had this to say:—