ALTERING LINES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4340, 6 October 1950, Page 10

ALTERING LINES

INTERESTING DISPUTE BOARD AND DEPARTMENT WHICH TO PAY THE CHARGES An interesting dispute has arisen between the Ministry of Works, Paeroa, and the Thames Valley ElectricPower Board relative to the charges and costs of removal and re-erection of power poles and the matter became the subject of a report from Mr R. Sprague, manager of the board, to the September meeting of the board held recently at Te Aroha. In explaining the position to the members of the board Mr 'Sprague said: “There is a demand from the Ministry of Works for a refund on the cost of removal of poles on the Thames-Coromandel' road. This position was brought about by Section 33 of the Public Works Amendment Act, 1948, which states that the charges for removal and re-erection of power poles should be borne equally by the authority controlling the highway or road and the supply authority having control over the poles. “We do not agree with this contention and consider that the department should pay the cost of these removals, namely £25/8/9, whereas they have asked for a refund of half the cost, namely £l2/14/4. In our letter of August 14 we refuse to recognise this refund 1 . However, since our notification that we would not be agreeable to pay half the cost of the removal, they have cancelled a further contract in order that a (ruling may be obtained on this matter. In our opinion the only ruling which can be obtained is from the Court 1 and it is up to. the department to make a test case. We are depending on previous Supreme Court judgment which gives the supply, authority the right to enforce any demand in the cost incurred in removing any poles as affecting highways or roads.”