ELECTRIC WIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1922, Page 6

ELECTRIC WIRES.

QUESTION OF DANGER. STRATFORD TECHNICAL SCHOOL. Whether electric wires in the vicinity of schools create a source of danger to the ch»J4rej?, a question before the ..Taranaki Education Board yesterday, when a deputation from the Stratford Borough Council, consisting of Mr. J. W. McMillan (Mayor) and Mr. Vickery (electrical engineer), waited upon the board asking the board to reconsider its request that the wires be made to cross the river near the Stratford Technical school, in order to remove a cause of danger. The deputation was introduced by Mr. R. Masters, M.P. Mr. McMillan said the Stratford Borough Council’s contention was that the lines were not dangerous, as they were insulated. These wires ran throughout fhe town, as well as p<aet the school. He asked why high-tension wires should be considered more dangerous in the latter case than in the former. The cost of shifting the wires back in any case would be about £lOO, whilst to shift them across the river would probably cost another £lOO. Last year the council’s expenditure had exceeded its revenue; thus it would be seen that it had no money to spare oh a work which it was contended was unnecessary. The council had always given favourable consideration to the school, having recently spent £95 on the approaches to the school. Similar wires ran past .the primary school, where, he submitted, the position, if dangerous at all, was more so in the latter case than in the former, as the children would need to be more carefully warned. The council was prepared to make a regular monthly inspection of the wires if the board so desired. The speaker mentioned that the lines had been there for about 25 years, and, to his knowledge, none had' come down in that time.

Mr. Masters maintained that there was an element of danger in the wires coming down, whilst the fact that they were insulated was but a false security.

Replying to this, Mr. Vickery said protective devices could be used to obviate that danger.

Mr. McMillan further pointed out that it was not anticipated that the lines would be there a great time, as the council would probably be making arrangements to get their hydro-electric power from the Government supply or from New Plymouth. Mr. Lees expressed appreciation of the council’s work in connection with the school; still he felt that there was a certain amount of danger in the present circumstances. Even if the board agreed to refer the matter to the department, the latter would probably be “up against” the concession. 'On being asked as to what stand the department "would probably take up, the senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Valentine) Said he thought the department would be utterly opposed to the concession while another route could be used. The chairman (Mr. P. J. H. White) agreed that the Stratford Borough Council had met the board very liberally, and the board would give their request earnest consideration. The Council must, however, realise that the board, as custodians of the children s safety, had to remove the slightest risk of danger that there might be. Before the deputation withdrew, Air. McMillan intimated that a daily inspection of the wires would be made if dediscussing the question after the withdrawal of the deputation, Mr. Masters said that the estimated cost of the deviation of the wires was only about £BO which should not be a very heavy expenditure lor the council. Further, the board had a moral duty to perform, and should not he a party to any dancer that might accrue. A heavy fall ot snow could quite easily bring the lines down, as had happened, with fatal results, on a previous occasion. ■Mr Trimble thought there must be ah element of danger if the council thought it necessary to make inspections as suggested, and if the use of protective devices were deemed necessary. Mr Lees then moved that the hoard, after giving full consideration, regretted that it could not see its way to alter its previous decision. wf. S. G. Smith seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried.