Poles and Wires

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26745, 31 May 1952, Page 6

Poles and Wires

The desirability, from the aesthetic point of view, of banishing poles from the city’s streets and of putting all wiring underground is unquestioned. Its economic practicability is at least open to doubt. It is possible, therefore, that Mr H. Tillman and his fellow-members of the Christchurch Beautifying Association—and, indeed, all citizens who take a pride in their city—would be wiser to concentrate their reforming zeal upon an objective that is not only desirable but demonstrably practicable. To demand that “ all ” overhead wires be put underground simply plays into the hands of the reluctant authorities, who could easily frighten away support for such a proposal with their estimates of the engineering costs involved. The important thing in Christchurch is to get the principle of underground as opposed to overhead wiring conceded and a start made, somewhere, with a project that must obviously take many years if it is not to be an intolerable burden to the payers of rates and taxes. It will not be easy to decide where to begin. New housing settlements are an obvious choice because little or no replacement of overhead equipment will be required. But before long the authorities should be persuaded to extend the reform to the squares, open spaces, and beauty spots of the city. 1 And when the forest of poles has been cleared sufficiently to enable citizens to see in their full beauty the trees of the avenues and parks which give Christchurch its distinctive character, the movement will undoubtedly gain impetus. Nothing will be lost by setting, for the time being, such a limited objective. The Post-master-General made it clear a few weeks ago that the Post and Telegraph Department will co-operate in any reasonable plan to sweep poles and wires out of sight in given areas; tramway overhead gear is gradually disappearing; and it remains only for the City Council to decide that its electricity department should make a start by setting aside a reasonable sum for the work in each year’s estimates. The reformers are not asking for something impossibly idealistic; they are merely asking that Christchurch should follow accepted and recognised civic engineering practice in countries no more enlightened than this.