NEW ROAD LIGHTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21117, 19 March 1934, Page 10

NEW ROAD LIGHTS

I HIGH COST EMPHASISED ! OPINION OF MRS K. R. M'I'OMBS ! A favourable opinion of the new : ' type of electric lighting which has ! been demonstrated in Papanui | road during the last few nights was ! expressed yesterday by Mrs E. R. ! McCombs, M.P.. who is the chair- ! woman of the electricity committee iof the Christchurch City Council. !At the same time Mrs McCombs ! emphasised that she regarded the I cost of installing the new lights as

being prohibitive. Mrs McCombs said that when inspecting the new lamps it was obvious to her that they had a good many advantages over the present lighting, although she thought that it was a little too early in the day to comment generally on the new system. The important point to consider was cost, and she believed that the new lights were prohibitive in that respect. But that point had been raised at the time of the introduction of the present type of street light. The largest possible sizes were demonstrated then, and were very expensive, but an efficient and "less costly light was soon developed.

Comparison of Cities Discussing street lighting generally Mrs McCombs mentioned that while in Wellington last week she had occasion to travel a good deal in the city and in the suburbs, and she had found that the lighting in the Christchurch streets compared very favourably with that of Wellington. "But street lighting depends so much on costs. We could light the streets brilliantly if the ratepayers were prepared to pay for it, but I doubt if they would stand for any great increase in the street lighting rates." Mrs McCombs added that while standing under the new lights she had discovered that it was quite possible to read; under the old lights it was much more ditlicult. The demonstration of the lights ended on Saturday night, and the lights will be taken down from the poles in Papanui road to-day. They were not shown last evening. Another short trial of one light will be given to members of the electricity committee of the Christchurch City Council this evening with a light placed at the corner of Worcester street and Montreal street.