EXTENSIONS OF LINES

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXII, Issue 19, 11 March 1941, Page 3

EXTENSIONS OF LINES

POWER BOARD MEMBER'S

COMPLAINT

NO NEW WORK TO BE PUT

IN HAND

Complaint was made at the meeting of the Springs-Ellesmere Power Board yesterday by Mr A. E. Langdale Hunt that an extension of a line was being made in his district or which he had no prior knowledge that it was to be erected. He added that he had 'heard that there was another extension to be made In the same area in which he was in a similar position. He was placed in an awkward situation by such action, for it suggested to the consumers that they could go past members to get what they wanted. He explained that an application had been made by the board to the controller for a permit for this extension which was deferred. Further representations were made to that officer with the result that the line was approved and the first knowledge that it was to be constructed he had received was in one of the reports presented to the board.

It was pointed out that it was the practice for all applications for extensions to come before; the board. The engineer was not quite certain whether this one did, but j it would be some considerable time ago. Mr H. D. Moran drew attention to the fact that while extensions were being made to country lines, some of the more closely settled areas were not receiving the same attention. There was a portion of the district near the Main South Road which was long over-due for improvement. Attention had been drawn to it but so far without success and the stage was being rapidly reached when the consumers there would demand to be put on a better basis and the form it would take Would probably be some readjustment of the areas to prevent over-lapping. He was not prepared to say that the extensions under discussion were not justified, but there were other areas where improvements were also necessary.

The engineer explained the difficulties against which the board had been working, and said that the linesmen had been fully engaged on extensions during the last three

years

Mr Moran asked if the board had a reserve of poles, which he considered was very necessary just now.

The chairman (Mr R. T. McMillan) explained that the board did not have any reserve, as the demand had always been too great to enable one to be built up. He agreed that a reserve was desirable and that the board should have more poles made as soon as the steel arrived, or purchase additional poles from Australia.

Mr Hunt said that the policy of the board had always been to extend the lines as much as possible until it had an effective service in the district. He agreed with Mr Moran that the area he mentioned should have a better service for it was working still on the old. reticulation taken over from the Public Works Department.

The chairman remarked that a little slip had occurred somewhere and it was not likely to occur again. The board had given instructions that all applications for extensions should be brought before it. No new work was to be undertaken until all that was in hand had been cleared up.

Mr Moran asked if that applied to electric ranges.

The engineer said that where the existing lines were of sufficient capacity to carry the range the usual practice was to connect it. Wherever reconstruction was necessary it would have to be regarded

as new work,

In reply to Mr Bailey, Mr Hunt said that when a permit was issued by the Controller for an extension, the work had to go on.

Speakers referred to the difficulties which occurred occasionally when permits for extension were refused, one instance being cited where a house had been built in a country district, wired as an allelectric, but the owner was unable to obtain power, and he had no

alternative means for cooking. At the request of Mr Moran an application is to be made for a permit to re-construct the line along Amyes's road, between Hornby and Sockburn.

The engineer said that several permits would be necessary to enable all the reconstruction work in that area to be carried out.