"I AM DISGUSTED"

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20726, 9 February 1939, Page 2

"I AM DISGUSTED"

MINISTER & POWER POLES ELECTRIOAL ENGINEER REBUKED I (Special to Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday A public works electrical engineer, Mr R. G. Mac Gibbon, was publicly upbraided by the Minister of Public i Works, the Hon. R. Semple, when a [ deputation from the Christchurch City , Council waited on him asking that a i line of power poles be rebuilt in a ! position that would not restrict the j carriageway. I "Right at the start I want to confess my complete ignorance that these poles had been erected in their present position," said the Minister. The erection of the power line was in definite conflict with the Government's policy of providing greater safety on the roads. A bad blunder had been made and someone would have to answer for it. Engineer’s Admission The public works electrical engineer, Mr R. G. Mac Gibbon, was present with the deputation, and at this stage interjected that he could answer for the mistake, as he had been responsible for the placing of the pole line in its present position. "You had no right to do that,’’ retorted the Minister. "On whose authority did you act?’’ Mr Mac Gibbon replied that he had consulted the local bodies concerned. There had been no question of the causeway becoming a highway when the position of the poles was decided on. Apart from that, he had had the greatest difficulty in finding anyone who could say where the poles were to be placed. "I am disgusted," added the Minister. “Someone has blundered, and blundered badly. A further investi- i gation is called for. 1 am not going to leave those death traps there. The 1 s will be shifted, and that is all there is about it."