DAMAGE BY TREES

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1936, Page 17

DAMAGE BY TREES

POWER BOARD PROBLEM

LEGISLATION PROMISED

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

Advice that the question of damage by trees to power lines was receiving detailed consideration and that a Bill would be introduced into the House as soon as a satisfactory-provision had been prepared, was received by the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board yesterday from the Minister of Public Works ithe Hon. R. Semple).

The principal difficulties of. the situation seemed, the Minister said, to lie in definingl what constituted a menace and in determining who was to pay the cost of removing it. He felt sure it was not the desire of local authorities that public utilities should be created and maintained at the expense of one or two private individuals, and in a matter of this kind It would be very easy to inflict a grave hardship if the possibilities were not fully surveyed before legislation, was framed.

Mr. ,J. A. Nash informed the meeting that the Power Boards' Association would be meeting the Minister on Wednesday, and would be discussing the matter fully with him.

■"•■■ Mr. M. A. Eliott pointed out that public utilities were being forced to pay more because of the obstinacy and dilatoriness of private individuals.

The Minister is to be informed that compensation should not be paid for trees which have had to be removed from the lines.