National power policy blasted

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 48, 18 June 1974, Page 5

National power policy blasted

The National Government had used power as a "chopping block", the Goverament MP for Taupo, Mr J. W. Ridley, told Parliament. Speaking during the Budget debate, Mr Ridley said National's stop-start policy went back to 1960 when it stopped work on Maraetai II. The policy had carried on with the Upper Waitaki scheme, and the same thing had gone on with all the thermal stations as well as hydro stations. Mr Ridley said the previous Government should not have based its power requirements on the same continuing flow in the Waikato and without any

drop occurring in the lakes. The former Government had had a report on Clutha Valley development in 1972 and had picked out the worst of the schemes. The present scheme would provide more power with less flooding. National had also stopped development at Broadlands, but this had now been resumed. Mr Ridley said he was confident the contribution which geothermal power would make to , the grid would be significant. On nuclear power, Mr Ridley said he believed that in the next 10-20 years there would be an acceptable nuclear scheme which would meet environmental requirements.