CITY LIGHTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 8

CITY LIGHTING

Having been given a concession in the cost of street lighting amounting to a little over £4OOO in the current year, the City Council has decided to use £9OO of the amount to provide better lighting. It is the reasonable way to apply at least part of the saving, but the proportion to be devoted to the purpose is not over. generous. If the present lighting were so good as to be capable of little improvement, it would be different; but the greatest admirer of the city and its management could hardly claim that to be so. In fact, frankly, the conditions in many parts on a really dark night are appallingly bad, and the amount of all-night illumination is by no means as great as it might be. It is not only a question of civic pride or of convenience for the wayfaring citizen, though both of these considerations should have weight. Good lighting is a direct discouragement of those kinds of law-breaking to which the peaceful householder is most exposed. The council might well consider these points and decide to err on the generous side in parcelling out to better lights a share of the saving made. It is to be hoped also that Queen Street will be given all the attention recommended for it. There are times when it seems quite a well lighted street — but that is only when the shops are all illuminated. At other times it is no great credit to New Zealand's largest city. Indeed, it suffers by comparison with some suburban areas and country centres where up-to-date. systems have been installed. Better treatment for Queen Street should be a first charge on the amount conceded the power board.