Trees and Power Lines

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 42, 20 February 1936, Page 6

Trees and Power Lines

(To the Editor). Sir, —The decision of Bower Boards and other public bodies to secure power to compel owners of trees which are a potential danger to cut them down, is a very wise move indeed. In furtherance of my previous letter on this matter, I would suggest that as it wUJ •iced an army of inspectors to determine which trees are a danger, that power be sought enabling l’.ower Boards, etc., to hold owners of trees responsible for any future damage done. This course would put the onus on the owners to cut the trees down at. their own expense and at tlicir own risk. 1 understand that quite a number of farmers did nothing to help themselves in the recent storm, but sal. quietly by until someone else did the work for them.

As to the actual cutting down of the trees, it might be as well to mention that if I, a private citizen, were to engage a man to cut trees down, and an accident happened, the man is not covered under the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act, and I cannot be held responsible. It is very questionable whether a farm labourer cutting trees down for the “boss” would be covered. The difficulty, however, in that case could be got over by having tree-felling added in the proposal of insurance. This, I think, would entail the paying of a slightly higher premium. I presume Power Board employees are covered whilst cutting trees. However, these points are worth bearing in mind. I am, etc., “OBSERVANT.”