CRITICISM OF P. AND T.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 260, 21 August 1950, Page 2

CRITICISM OF P. AND T.

POWER BOARD COMMENT .’PHONE LINE PROTECTION Criticism of the Post and Telegraph Department was voiced at to-day’s meeting of the Ashburton Electric-Power Board, especially in regard to use made by the Department of power poles for telephone wires and Departmental statements that telephone connections were held up through the board.

The engineer-secretary (Mr H. G. Kemp, presented a report- to the meeting regarding demands by the Department for alterations to power lines to provide protection for telephone lines. Mr Kemp said that he objected to these .demands because they interfered with the board’s works programme. Matters came to a head recently when demands were received for 20 alterations to lines in the Dromore-Dorie area.

Mr Kemp stated that -he had refused to make the alterations on three grounds—that the work would occupy one gang for three to four weeks, and would cause numerous interruptions to supply in the area; that the Department, as in the past, could well provide its own protection; and that the board had not,the necessary cable. “The Department has provided its own cheap and effective protection in the past,” stated Mr Kemp, in summarising the position, ‘‘and it is still practicable for the Department to provide its own protection. The class of protection demanded is less safe, generally, than the existing lines and is more vulnerable to damage. The regulations, under which the demands are made, are invoked only on Departmental initiative, and the present policy of the Department causes loss of time in the board’s work and needless interruptions in the service.” Mr* Kemp said, further, that he estimated the protection sought would cost the board £SOO, whereas the Department could provide equal protection for £751

The chairman (Mr W. H. Woods) said that the Department had been telling residents that delay in connecting up their phones was due to the board not carrying out the work demanded. The board should not take t(ie blame. It was a problem which other boards had experienced. People waiting for phone's were definitely told by Departmental officers that the board was responsible for the delay, commented Mr L. A. Charles. Some telephones had been installed since February, but could not be connected up until the line crossings had been made. It should be made plain to the public that the board was not to blame. The Department could easily put in the protection as in the past, and so clear up the whole matter. “The Department have used this sort of propaganda a lot," said Mr W. C. Burton. He added the hope that the position would be soon cleared up, as it concerned so many boards. “It is very tough on those who have been waiting for .phones for six months,” said Mr Charles. * The chairman stated that a gentlemen’s agreement had been 'in voguefor the past 25 years, but the such demands as the present had not been brought up in the past.

The report of the Engineer-Secre-tary was approved, and his action supported. *

Power Poles Used for Phone Wires

Mr Kemp stated that the Department was making free use of power poles for carrying telephone lines in the urban, area. This was being done without any intimation to the board, and it would be much more satisfactory if the Department notified the board of their intention to take this step. He recommended that the Department be asked to pay a rental charge of 10s per annum for each pole so used. “It is amazing' that they use the poles without telling us,” remarked Mr S. P. Taylor. “It must be very inconvenient for board employees.” The chairman pointed out that it was not unreasonable for the board and Department to help one another, but that there should be some recompense in the matter. The Department was not using the poles simply for crossing, but were running the wires along the streets. The works and finance committee, after an inspection earlier to-day, recommended that the principle of charging a rental for the poles should be approved, and that finalising of the matter be left in the? hands of that committee and Mr Kemp. . Mr Kemp said that rentals had been paid in the past. In rural areas low tension poles had been used, but that was a matter for arrangement with the residents concerned. The hoard used telephone lines for crossing over, but there was no argument in that connection. “It seems a gross impertinence for the Department to use our poles without consulting us,” commented Mr Charles. - .

The recommendation was then approved.