5
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979
IT ALSO EMPOWERS THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO REGULATE THE USE OF VEHICLES ON ROADS AND THE USE OF AIRCRAFT, VESSELS, TRAINS AND TRAMS.
THE GOVERNOR WILL ALSO BE ENABLED TO APPOINT A DIRECTOR OF OIL SUPPLIES TO GIVE DIRECTIONS TO SUPPLIERS AND DEALERS AS TO THE STORAGE, SUPPLY USE AND DISPOSAL OF OIL AND TO GIVE SIMILAR DIRECTIONS TO ELECTRICITY AND GAS SUPPLY COMPANIES.
MR. JEAFFRESON STRESSED THAT UNDER THE BILL ONLY SUCH POWERS AS ARE STRICTLY NECESSARY FOR ANY PARTICULAR SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE USED.
SUPPORT FOR SAVE FUEL BILL
*****
REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN SUPPORTED THE OIL (CONSERVATION AND CONTROL) BILL 1979, BUT REMINDED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ADVICE IT DID NOT TAKE FOUR YEARS AGO TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF OUR OIL RESERVES.
SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)" HE SAID, HE HOPED THAT IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY LIKE THE PRESENT, THE POWER COMPANIES WILL NOT BE TEMPTED TO DIG INTO OUR STRATEGIC RESERVES.
+ IT WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING PRACTICE TO KEEP OUR RESERVES AT THE MAXIMUM AS A CUSHION AGAINST THE DAY WHEN THE SITUATION MAY DETERIORATE FURTHER, HE SAID.
ANOTHER WORRY, EXPRESSED BY SOME UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, RAISES A VERY IMPORTANT POINT, FR. MCGOVERN CONTINUED. THE WORRY IS WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE OIL SUPPLIERS' GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL BE WILLING AND ABLE TO SUPPLY US WITH 95 PER CENT OF OUR NEEDS, IF THE PUBLIC DOES ITS PART AND VOLUNTARILY CUTS CONSUMPTION BY FIVE PER CENT.
HE SAID THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE GUARANTEED AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC CAN SEE, IS A PROMPT AND POSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A RISE IN PRICES, TIMED IN PERFECT UNISON, AND IN THE CASE OF PETROL, BY THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.+
WHILE HE DID NOT INTEND TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CONTROVERSY AS TO WHETHER OPEC OR THE SEVEN SISTERS AND THE IR RELATIVES ARE GREATER VILLAINS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLEGEDLY PROFITEERING AT EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS FROM THE BARREL OF CRUDE TO THE PETROL PUMP,+ HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF OIL SUPPLIES WILL HAVE POWERS TO EXAMINE THE IR BOOKS.
HE HOPED THAT THE DIRECTOR WILL DEMAND CONVINCING REASONS FOR EVERY CENT OF ANY FUTURE RISE IN PRICES.
/FR. LCGOVERN