C.H.B. POWER BOARD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 18 August 1934, Page 9

C.H.B. POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD “BREAK-A WAY” MOVE. From Our Own Correspondent. WAIRLKIRAL, August 17. The monthly meeting of the Central Hawke s Bay Electric Bower Board was held at Waipukurau ‘to-day, the chairman, Mr A. C. Russell, presiding over Messrs M. Ryan, J. A. Kerr, t. J. Witherow, C. Pattison, R. A. Fraser, A. W. S. Longley, A. C. Holms, and W. H. Rathbone The engineer, Mr J. K Lee, and the secretary-man-ager, Mr G. E. Fowler, were also present. Advice was received from tho secretary of the Electric Power Boards and Lighting Authorities’ Association, that a general conierenco would be held on September W at Wellington.— Received, the secretary-manager -nd the chairman will attend the comerence. The Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board forwarded a lengthy letter m which it was contended that power boards should possess their “twu association. Commenting on the letter, the chairman said that something in the nature of a rumpus was expected at the conference, and that theio was a probability of the power boards and the principal authorities separating. “It seems a pity, in a way,” he said. *‘lf the municipal authorities wish to separate, that will be all right, but on the other hand, if they pay their subscriptions 1 don’t see that we can do anything to prevent them from remaining members.” In the opinion of Mr .Holms the correct procedure would be to continue the present association, and. to leave the responsibility of breaking away to the municipal authorities. Should that occur it would raise the issue of making the association exclusive to powei boards. After further discussion the matter i was left to the board’s delegate to the I conference, with power to act. Writing in reference to the erection of radio aerials, tho Telegraph Eu- ’ gineer, Napier stated that under the ■ Radio Regulations, 1932, radio aerials , could not be erected above or below electricity wires without the consent of the licensee. Mr Holms referred to the danger that arose through the erection of aerials m undulv close proximity to power and service lines, and in so doing, pointed out that this factor had not been provided for, though he had made previous reference to it. ‘‘There is a big element of danger where an aerial goes over or under a power line.' 5 said the engineer. 1 but at tho present time when it comes to the building of aerials, people eem to want to go up to a groat height, and in several cases the wire stays holding the aerial mast constitute a. danger.” He had. on looking round the board's area, found a number of cases of such dangerous stays, where they wore necessarily under the power lines.. . , „ “There will bo a remit coming heroic the conference urging the introduction of legislation to control the erection oi masts and aerials,” said the secretarymanager. “Control—always control. I am beginning to wonder where al! this is leading to.’ said Mr I'raser. ‘‘Judging by tlie present trend in this country toward interference with, and control of the individual, we will soon be unable to do anything without getting a permit from someone or other. It's all control.” ‘‘Yes. but in this instance it 13 control to save human life,” replied Mr Holms. “The hoard owes a duty to the public, and this constitutes a real danger.” ‘‘Wo will have to get a permit to breathe the very air in another ‘-u years,” remarked Mr Rathbone. , The question was finally left tn I In' delegates to the eonfererro