Power price pledge plagues Govt.

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 46, 11 June 1974, Page 7

Power price pledge plagues Govt.

IThe Government is being plagued by another election promise — the pledge to keep bulk power charges at the level prevailing when the Government took office. As is known, the Government sells power in bulk from its electricity producing undertakings to the various boards, which distribute it and charge the customers according to what they use. But these are bad times for any such promises. The authorities are suffering from increased expenditure, and the Government likewise. This is why there is some reassurance, at least, from the statement by the deputy Prime Minister, Mr Watt, that bulk power charges will still be "held". EMERGENCY MEETING It now appears that at least one reason — perhaps the main one — for the emergency meeting of Cabinet, just before the Labour Party caucus meeting, was the bulk power charge. question. One usually reliable source said that the wisdom of raising the bulk power charges was quietly explored in caucus , — and was shelved again after certain back bench members indicated the possible result of such a move to their political viability. So for the meantime the bulk rate won't change. This could allow a slight rise in retail charges (to help the power boards) — but the result should hold the rise to less than five per cent. NO GUARANTEE It is noted that neither

Mr Watt nor anyone else is prepared to say that the old price of bulk power will remain to the end of the present parliamentary term, which expires in November, 1975. When Mr Watt talked of ari undertaking to "hold" prices — a slightly less definite term than the one used in 1972 — some journalists detected a metapHorical crossing of fmgers. But this matter of keeping prices and costs low in times of crisis — and relying on other means of subsidy — is part of traditional Labour thinking, to be remembered in the postdepression years. It is the reverse of the National "let the user pay" philosophy. NOT WELCOME It appears that children of American people who would like their youngsters to be educated in this country are no longer welcome. A decision made last September means that whatever accommodation we have in public and private schools is being reserved for New Zealanders and "Pacific Island peoples." This means that American children can't get a long-stay permit for educational purposes. One couple so advised was told that the ban also applied to private schools, because "Government funds are also involved in private schools, you know." This has saddened some people who contemplated retiring to New Zealand, and who wanted their children educated in "the New Zealand way of life."

CLUTHA CLASHES The probability that work on the Upper Clutha and Kawarau River scheme (costing S385 million) will start eariy next year will stir up a controversy much bigger than the Te AnauManapouri one — unless people aceept the necessity tor power against history or scenery. People are already reacting to the fact that the , decision to adopt a plan flooding inhabited localities and parts of two towns was made by the same Government that rejected the high dam at Manapouri on scenic grounds. Mr Kirk has already been reminded of his promise of May 18, 1972. that "under no circumstances" would the Labour Party agree to flooding Cromwell or Hawea Flat. $$Updv.fer demands could fbft-I a Manapouri rethink. OFFICIAL SECpjp The Official Seerels Act, a measure giviht* the authorities extremev |{|0|v@ps.: ^in cases of emt^-geriJv." ■ is likely to conie in for intensive re-examinatron during the present Session of Parliament.

This Act has been in existence since 1951, but has rarely been invoked. Section 1 1 of the Act gives the Commissioner of Police power to . act in extreme emergencies — but some authorities believe that a more careful detlnition of sueh emergencies is needed. It is. remembered that the original British Act was largely used in wartime, and that the New Zealand Act was brought in during the waterfront troubles of 1951. INVASION OF PRIVACY A person' s right to privacy. may at last be defined in new legislation. The New Zealand brsmch of International Jurists — a group of prominent legal people — has already approached five Ministers of Justice about the matter. "But the circumstances have changed several times from limitation of right of entry into private premises to the use of various kinds of long-distance surveillance and "bugging" devices — and then to the use of data banks and computer systems. The latest information is that at least two and possibly as many as four separate pieces of legislation are needed, and all of these will be difficult to draft.