ELECTROCUTION OF CATTLE.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 163, 16 December 1926, Page 8

ELECTROCUTION OF CATTLE.

CLAIM ON POWER HOARD. Licensing Authority Liable. Precautionary Measures Framed Correspondence and reports arising out of the electrocution of 12 dairy cows on Mr. F. Klaus’ farm, Tatuanui, on November 29, were presented to Tuesday’s meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Pow’er Board. A claim had been made by Mr. Klaus against the board for compensation in connection with his cows, and the board left this matter in the the hands of the chairman to adjust, with power to act. ENGINEERS’ OPINIONS. Samples of the wire which had been broken had been sent to the district electrical engineer, Hamilton, who reported that the cause of the accident was apparently due to the wires being defective, although the cows rubbing - or bumping against the poles might have had something to do with the breaking of the wires. The board’s chief engineer (Mr. N. G. McLeod) reported as follows in connection with the occurrence: — “ The wire which broke was on the service line belonging to Mr. Klaus. The cause of the break is difficult to determine, but all the poles show signs of cattle having rubbed against them and if this action is continued any wire will break in course of time, owing to the short backward and forward bending. There was no indication on the wire that it had been damaged in erection, nor that it had been over-strained and the most possible cause was the rubbing of the cattle.

“ The board’s solicitor is of the opinion that although the board does not own tbe line, the board as licensee is lesponsible for any accident caused by the escape of any electricity. “ Apart from bad workmanship or materials, it is possible for a service line to be broken in several ways for instance, falling trees, flying branches, cattle rubbing or bumping all of these apparenty, and possibly many other things, in the eyes of the law, can be guarded against. “ It is possible to-have trees cut so far back that no storm previously known could blow branches across lines, and it is possible to fence off service lines so that vehicles could not collide with, nor cattle rub or bump poles. It is possible also to put earthing guards on every pole, so that, if a bare wire fell, it would fall on the earthed guards and be made dead if the guards could be properly earthed; or the wires could be covered throughout their length, though this would not necessarily mean immunity from accidents, or the wires could be put underground, giving, perhaps, the greatest immunity'. “ The nature of the supply is such that a greater electrical pressure than normal is practically impossible on these low pressure lines, even though a low pressure line fell on them, and this low pressure is considered reasonably safe for human beings, though apparently it is quite unsafe for animals. There appears to be no known method by which low pressure lines of this nature can be made dead automatically and with absolute surety in every case.

11 It is apparent that the work cannot stand the expense of being made absolutely safe under all conditions and against all possibilities, and some means will require to be adopted which will not unduly affect consumers financially to the extent that the demand for electricity supply will be prejudicially affected. The matter is not simple, and it would appear the board must be prepared to take the risk.

“ Regular and careful inspections are being carried out throughout the area, and have been for the past three years. The amount of live wire erected on poles is approximately 4500 miles. It would be quite impossible to take down every wire at these inspections to examine them for defects and even if this were done, there is no guarantee that something would not happen before the next inspection.” FURTHER PRECAUTIONS. Usually after such an accident suggestions are made in an endeavour to prevent a recurrence, and such was the case in this instance. The special finance committee which had considered the matter on the previous evening, tabled the following recommendations : “ Re Policy: We recommend that the manager take out a policy for £IOOO, similar to the one operating in the Central Electric Power Board area, being against risk of electrocution of human beings and animals. “Re New Lines: We recommend that where new lines are erected, ar-

rangements be made for the fences to be earthed and that barbed wire be placed on every pole on the service line -in the board’s- area, and that the board be absolved from any liability caused through the barbed wire being placed around the poles.

“ Re Costs of Overhead and Underground Services: We recommend that the engineer bring down a report on the costs of overhead and underground erection of service mains. “ Re Eerection of Poles: We recommend that the privilege be taken away from the consumers of erecting their own poles.” The recommendations were adopted, and it was decided to circularise consumers in this connection.