MUST CALL HALT TO NEW INDUSTRIES

Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1947, Page 6

MUST CALL HALT TO NEW INDUSTRIES

Press Association

By Telearavh-

CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. A halt in the issue of licences for new industries was urged on the Government because of the seriousness of electric power prospects, by a South Island Regional conference of supply authorities engineers in Christchurch today. Great concern was expressed by the engineers over the power shortage and its possible eontinuation and they decided to ask the Supply Authorities' Association to stress the need for urgent action on the Government 's intention to obtain four steam plants, two for each island. "Being aware of the serious position that seems certain to arise if the establishment of further new industries is authorised, both for those new indus' tries and for those eonsumers alreadv supplied, this conference urges on the Government the advisability of refraining from issuing further licences for sueh industries in order to ensure, as far as possible, a reasonably satisfactory supply to all existing eonsumers," was the text of a motion carried. The conference further resolved "that those industries already authorised but which are not yet established, should be fully aequainted with the serious deficiency in the power position for the next 10 years and urges the in-. stallation o-f their -own generating plant. ' '

The opinion was expressed by the engineers in their remit to the Supply ■Authorities' Association that in the economic interests of the country as a whole, auxiliary plants should preferably be in the form of large units ineorporated in the State hydro-electric system rather than as supply authority plants. The department should be asked for an explicatory statement as to its views and also for its views on the perm;ssible use of supply authority fuel plants at times other than periods of shortages. The engineers also suggested that supply authorities should carefully consider the question of the right responsibility before undertaking expenditure for auxiliary fuel plants. The association was also recommended to issue a policy statement embodying, if possible, a uniform policy on the use that might be made of eonsumers' fuel plants subsequent to periods of shortages. The engineers noted with satisf action and strongly commended a statement of the Minister of Works, Mr. Semple, that the department was making inquiries for four steam plants as part of the State hydro-generating system and asked the association to stress tlre urge.ncy fnr .action,