WHEN THE FUSE BLOWS OUT.

Shannon News, 26 June 1925, Page 3

WHEN THE FUSE BLOWS OUT.

POWER BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY

At last meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board, Mr A. A. Brown brought u;j a matter of some interest to light and power consumers, tie expressed the opinion 'that when the fuse of the electric installation blew out, it should be the duty of the Board to replace it without charge. The Board' agreed to give the consumer continuous light and power and had no right to charge lor replacing a fuse wire. If the fuse wire was not strong enough,' it was not the fault of the consumer.

The Board's engineer, Mr Overton, said the fuse was a protective device for the installation. A blow-out might be caused 1 y the improper use of the installation--if, for instance, a radiator was put on to a lamp socket, which ' was not allowed. Some Boards charged for the replacing of the fuse and others did not. The chairman, Mr Monk, said it was a very simple matter to replace it. , Mr Brown: It is very simple if the people are educated how to do it, but people are prohibited by the by-laws from touching any of the installation. The Engineer said that was not quite right. There was no such by law, relating to fuses. Mr Brown: Then people should be instructed bow to replace them and given a supply of fuse wire to use. The chairrmin considered that the fact that consumers had to pay for replacement would act as a deterrent to carelessness. Mr Barber asked if forms of instruction could be printed or the Board's meter reader could instruct consumers how to repair the fuises. Mr Monk said that trouble usually occurred in new concerns and his experience led him to believe that these small interferences seem to right thmselves as the public grew accustomed to the "juice." Mr Kilsby asked on behalf of Mr O'Rourke and other residents on the Waitohu Valley Road, whether the power.could be'installed before shearing time commenced. It was stated by the engineer that the district had not yet been canvassed, but he would make the necessary enquiries.