Had To Dig Up New Path To Lay Power Cables

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31188, 12 October 1966, Page 5

Had To Dig Up New Path To Lay Power Cables

Having agreed with the housing division of the Ministry of Works to instal underground wiring in a new cul-de-sac off Maddisons road, Central Canterbury Electric Power Board workmen were surprised, when they arrived to do the job, to find that the footpath had been sealed. Reporting this to a meeting of the board yesterday, the engineer-manager (Mr S. E. Slatter) said that the board’s trenching had extensively damaged the > sealing, and as restoration would prove expensive, clarification was being sought from the Ministry.

“There’s nothing more annoying to the public than to see a newly-laid path dug up,” said the chairman (Mr W. A. Newton).

“I'm hot on the taxpayers’ money being frittered away like this,” said Mr L. T. Griffith. “Surely the Ministry knew of the agreement, and could have arranged things with the contractor.” Mr Slatter said that the Post Office had had the same trouble with its underground lines. It was hoped to have nothing but underground wiring in the area. The board agreed to try to get a more satisfactory arrangement. New Loan.— Notice was given of the board’s intention to apply for authority to raise a £200,000 reticulation loan.

Congratulations. Board representatives were congratulated on their election to national bodies at the supply authorities’ conference last month Mr Newton was elected to the executives of the Power Boards’ Association and the Electrical Supply Authorities' Association. Mr Slatter was elected to the engineers’ executive, the sec-retary-manager (Mr V. G. Mason) to the secretaries’ executive, and the assistant secretary (Mr I. S. Smith) to the management committee of the employers’ association.