CITY LIGHTING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20176, 3 March 1931, Page 8

CITY LIGHTING.

RESTRICTIONS TO CEASE, decision op council. The inconvenience under which the City is at present suffering as a result of the street lights bejng turned off at midnight will cease to exist as from March 14th, a. motion to this effect having been carried at last night's meeting of the City Council.

Cr. H. T. J, Thacker (chairman of the Electricity Committee) said that last week the level of take Coleridge had been raised Beven inches, so that ifc stood at about 4 feet 5 inches below the overflow mark. If the level had been improved by a like amount again this week the lake would now be only about 4 feet below the overflow level. In the circumstances he would move that after March 15th, the end of the daylight saving period, the street lights should be kept on until 2 a.m. instead of midnight as at present. Councillor Taken to Task. Cr. M. JS. Lyons said that he could not help thinking that on occasions Cr. Thacker took it on himself to speak for the whole of the Electricity Committee. Ho had brought up a matter that had not even been discussed by the committee. It was a figment of his imagination to think that it had been, Cr. Thacker: That is not so. It was brought up at the last meeting. Cr. Lyons said that he was not present at the meeting referred to, but he know that it was called for th© purpose of meeting the Manufacturers' Association. Since then he had been assured by a ©ember of the committee who was jjreeeht that the question was not even discussed. Cr. Thacker had no right as though the committee had approved of it. Ho should have brought the matter forward as coming from the chairman ,of the committee. . "There is an election, coming on. That is why he is speaking like that," commented Cr, Thacker.

■>— Lighting in the Country. Or. E. H., Andrews seconded tho motion, and expressed the opinion that tho lights should be allowed to burn all nignt, especially since in. some country districts lights from th« lake power were left on in the daytime. Cr. M. E. Lyons moved that tho matter should be referred to tli© Electricity Committee wifh power to act. Cr. 0. E. Jones moved an amendment that the lights should be left on nil. night as soon as the present phase of tho moon was finished. In Timaru there was a blaze oft light at night, and tho people of Christchurch should be given the benefit of their lamps, he said. The economy was infinitesimal. Cr. Thacker said there had been many cases of accidents through the glare of motor-car headlamps on cyclists, and the danger was a very real one. He would accept Cr. Jones's amendment. ■ Cr. A. w. Beaven said that the lake was half full. The Council must weigh the importance of a few accidents to night wanderers against certain industries being compelled to close down. °^ er: e w two-thirds It waa decided that restrictions should cease ae from March 14th.