DANGER OF POWER POLES

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1947, Page 7

DANGER OF POWER POLES

MINISTER'S LETTER TO BOARD His attention had been drawn to the dangers presented by the position in which power and telegraph poles were placed along the roadways, said the Minister of Works, Hon. R. Semple, in a'letter which was received at yesterday's meeting cf the Horowhenua Electric Power Board. "I propcse to rectify the position by introducmg in the first opportune measure legislation . to provide that in the future 'no authority or persoxi shall erect or replace any towcr, pole or other structure upon

any main highway, road or street, except in a location approved in writing by the authority in which the control is vested.' " This was a matter which would seriously affect the board, said the chairman, Mr. T. G. Vincent, when discussing the letter. The legislation would want a good deal of thinking over. For example, if a power pole was snapped off during a storm, the engineer would have to get authority in writing before he could replace it. The Electric Power Boards' and Supply Authorities' Association v/ould be watching the interests of the boards, and would endeavour to "temper the wind for the shorn |amb," added Mr. Vincent. Mr. Semple asked that, pending the introduction of the legislation, the board's olhcers should observe the "spirit of the proposal" by submitting full details of their proposed replacement or erection of lines to the appropriate local body, and obtaining its consent before actually proceeding with the work.