NOT DANGEROUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 9

NOT DANGEROUS.

ELECTRIC POWER POLES.

INSPECTION AT MOUNT ALBERT

While some electric power poles in the Mount Albert district show signs of sap r6t at the base, they are in no way dangerous. An assurance to this effect was given at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board by the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, in replying to the suggestion made at a recent meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council" that some of the poles were in a dangerous condition. Mr. Bartley said that an inspection of all the poles in thfc Mount Albert borough had been made, and, while it was true that a certain number of them showed signs of sap rot, the amount of decay that had taken place would not materially lessen the strength of them. The heart timber had been tested and found to be thoroughly sound. The inspection had shown, however, that the desapping of the poles had not been carried out properly. "While. I admit that decay of the sap wood is apt to give the appearance of a weak pole, in this case the lino is perfectly safe and will last for many years." added Mr. Bartley. "It may be as well, in the near future, to have some of the sap wood removed merely because of appearance, and I will endeavour to have this attended to. In connection with the suggestion that the board should use totara poles, I agree that totara is an excellent timber for lasting in the ground, but it is' totally unsuitable for poles, on account of its very short grain. To provide this timber to stand the strain which it is necessary to place on our poles, we would require to have at least three times the amount of timber in the poles. In consequence the cost would be very much more, and at the same time a greater footpath area would be required. Totara poles have been well tried out in New Zealand and are not used except for light lines." The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, said he had not the slightest doubt that some of the poles that were showing signs of sap rot were purchased at a time when the board had to buy poles where they could get them. There was a shortage of poles in Australia, and the board had to get some from, the Government that were not up to the standard of the poles the board was accustomed to using.

A copy of the report is to be forwarded to the Mount Albert Borough Council.