POWER FOR STATE HOUSES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22795, 22 August 1939, Page 12

POWER FOR STATE HOUSES

ERECTION OF POLES CONSIDERED

DEPUTATION RECEIVED BY MINISTER

To obtain definite information about the electrical reticulation of State housbs at Riccarton, a deputation from

the Riccarton Borough Council waited on the Minister for Housing (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) yesterday. With the Minister were Mr A. Tyndall, Director .of Housing Construction, and Mr L. S. Payne, representing the electrical branch of the Public Works-Depart-ment.

‘ It was revealed in the discussion, part of which was taken in committee, that there had been a long dispute between the Housing Department and the Borough Council over the erection of power poles to supply the houses with electricity. The proj osal made by the department to erect the poles behind the houses was not considered acceptable because several problems would probably arise. The council was represented by Messrs R. G. Malcolmson (DeputyMayor). C. G. McKellar. W. T. House, and R. Sarjeant (Town Clerk and Electrical Engineer). The department was trying to prevent the erection of the power poles in the streets of all housing blocks, the Minister said. It 'was considered to be a vast improvement to have the poles erected behind the houses, and wherever that policy had been adopted it had given satisfaction. As the Riccarton houses were considered to’ be a model block it was most undesirable to spoil the appearance of the streets with power poles. Mr Sarjeant said that the Housing Department would not accept responsibility in the event of a death arising out of the electrification of wire fences behind the houses by a broken powerline. The council was also not prepared to accent that responsibility. When Mr Sarjeant referred to the additional cost of installing noles behind the houses. Mr Tyndall said that the department had been generous and had offered to contribute £6OO towards the cost.

Reply to Deputation Replying to the deputation. Mr Tyndall said he had given more time to the reticulation of the Riccarton State houses than to any other block in the country." The department was now operating’ in 103 towns, and no objection had been raised in any other town where the proposal had been made. | One local authority had put in the lines underground at its own expense. There had been wire fences under the lines in each town ' where Soles had been put in behind the ouses. He had told a conference of supply authorities recently that the erection of poles behind the houses was not an ideal scheme; but it was a suitable compromise. - In none of the photographs he had seen of housing schemes overseas had -there been power poles on the streets. - -He had not had to meet any other local authority in the Dominion on the question of electricity reticulation. As there had been opposition to the proposal from the Christchurch City Council it had been hoped to make the Riccarton housing block a model. ' Mr Tyndall said that the department would be prepared to erect wooden fences behind the houses if the fences were the main difficulty “We would sooner have that than the poles in the street.” commented the Minister., Another solution, he said, would be to cut out the local authority arid get the electricity supply direct from the Public Works Department. The deputation agreed to the proposal' provided- wooden fences were erected under the lines. Further details are to be discussed later with Mr Tyndall. POWER POLES IN 1 * STREETS 1 i i "' ' ] , 1 REMOVAL PREDICTED BY < HOUSING DIRECTOR | iftat public opinion would compel -J the removal of power poles from streets ] within the . next generation, was an , opinion expressed by Mr A. Tyndall, Director of Housing Construction, in q « discussion with a deputation from the j Christchurch City Council yesterday. If J there had not been poles on streets in the Dominion a few more people would i be alive to-day, he said. t Mr Tyndall was commenting on the l attitude of the council to the proposal ; to erect' power poles behind State } houses in the city..‘‘We have not had t the; same co-operation from the Mu- 1 nicipal Electricity Department that we < have had -from some- local he said. He had recently shown to ] Cabinet members subdivisions where 3 the poles had been erected behind the houses, and their comment on it had been very appreciative. He thought the ; attitude of the- Riccarton Borough ( Council, in opposing the proposal, had , been “rather touched by the attitude of the parent body.”- : The deputation, which consisted of i Cr’s. J. S. Barnett,’ A. PSrlane, J. , E. Jones, and E. H. Andrews, discussed with the Minister for. Housing (the : Hon. H. T. Armstrong) and Mr Tyndall. the handing) over to the City Council of streets 1 through State housing subdivisions. Mr- Parlane said the council was anxious ■ for the streets to, be handed over to become its property. Mr Tvhdall indicated that the streets would be sealed and handed over to the council. ’ • ' TRIBUTES PAID TO r ENGINEER MINISTER’S ATTITUDE APPRECIATED RESOLUTION OF RICCARTON COUNCIL. Appreciation of the attitude of the Minister for Housing, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, during a conference with the Riccarton Borough Council concerning the electric- power reticulation of the block of State houses at Riccarton, was expressed ’ at a -meeting of the, Riccarton Borbugh , Council last ■ night. .. • “The« Minister has been very fair, and quite in sympathy with our case, and I should like to record our appreciation of the way he conducted the conference”’ said the Depjity-Mayor (Mr R. G. Malcolmson). - "If finality .is now 1 about' to be I reached, and we all hope it is, I think this council ought to congratulate -the • deputation on bringing this terrible state of affairs .to a successful issue,” said Cr. F; George. “We have been doing all we can in the interests of the -community; and the whole thing sums itself iip into the Government trying to force this council, to 'break the 'regulations.' Now we find those , regulations are being observed, and t the work being done as we first suggested. In view of the difficulties we 5 are up against 1 think we should also ■ express appreciation of the work of , our Electrical Engineer (Mr R. Sar- ! jeant).” . Mr T. ; M. Ford said he agreed with '; Cr. George’s remarks up ’to a point, . but he did not agree that the Govern- • ment had tried deliberately to force the council., to- break. the regulations. . , , In seconding Cr. George’s motion that a vote of appreciation to the depur i nation and to the Electrical Engineer ; be placed on Cr. H. P. Smith [ said there was nothing in the engin- , eer’s mind but the-safety of the pub- , lie. ' . *•. v- ;■ The motion was carried. ,