POWER FAILURES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 150, 28 June 1938, Page 8

POWER FAILURES

PETONE CONCERNED OVERLOADING ALLEGED Concern at the number of power failures experienced in Petone recently was expressed at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening. The question was brought up by Coun--0 cillor A. M. Macfarlane, who said he had heard that the trouble was caused e by overloading. E Councillor Macfarlane said that the '• electrical services to Petone had " been disorganised seriously several times lately and there had been numer--2 ous minor failures. He. thought the £ council should approach the Power s Board to find out the reason for the Ir breakdowns. He had heard rumours s about overloading of lines and transformers. He could understand trouble s on the Esplanade when a southerly was 1 blowing, but this was different from an i insufficient number of sub-stations and . transformers. He moved "that the council views with apprehension the ~ epidemic of breakdowns" and that the " Power Board be asked to make investigations as to whether the transformers and sub-stations were sufficient to j carry the load. If one sub-station went out the borough might be without light for twenty-four hours or more, he said. I The Mayor (Mr. G. London) said r that until recently there had been few complaints about the supply to Petone. i The motion was seconded by Couns cillor E. N. Campbell, who said there I was no doubt about the interruptions, j An efficient service was needed. Councillor J. Cumming considered 3 that the Power Board did not have any 3 control over the breakdowns, which occurred during the bad weather. He j had not heard any complaints. While _ overhead lines were in use trouble i would occur in bad weather. The motion was carried unanimously, j Councillor Huggan asked when something would be done about the lights in the domain at Korokoro. The lights were needed urgently and the 5 Power Board should take early action, i The Mayor explained that action had i been planned, but the manager of the t Power Board had been occupied lately ■ with t>ther matters. It was decided to write to the Power . Board asking for definite date when - the lights would be fixed.