POWER BOARD PUZZLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 8

POWER BOARD PUZZLE.

REMOVAL OF IMPEDING TREES NEW LEGISLATION SOUGHT. Concern was felt by members of the Waitemata Power Board to-day when the secretary reporting on the recent conference in Wellington, mentioned the case of a Canterbury landowner who recovered damages from the local power board for cutting down shelter trees.

Tho conference. Mr. Bull said, had decided "that legislation be enacted to the effect that if after due notification by a power beard or supply authority to cut trees, the person so notified neglects to satisfactorily cut same, he shall be held responsible for any subsequent accident or damage which may result in consequence: and, further, that in such cases of neplect the board may cut the trees at its own discretion, and recover the cost, without any liability whatever for damages, such cutting to be done with reasonable care."

Mr. S. E. Konningfl: Reasonable care by whom ? Tlio Chairman (Mr. J. W. Hayden): By the boards. Mr. Kennings: It is the employees of the boards, who are not always careful. The chairman expressed the opinion that the Canterbury case had not been properly contested. Had it been, there would probably have been a different decision. Tho engineer (Mr. F. J. H. Wilson)? A power board may now approach a county council and ask it to give notice to have trees removed. The chairman: But the councils dont earn about doing it. *I think the new legislation will set the matter right.