NEW SCHEME

Southland Times, Issue 25313, 17 June 1935, Page 4

NEW SCHEME

WINTON STREET LIGHTING FURTHER CONSIDERATION (From Our Correspondent.) At Friday’s meeting of the Winton Borough Council, when the Mayor, Mr T. Walker, presided over a full attendance of councillors, further consideration was given to the new street lighting scheme, that it has been proposed to carry out in the borough. An extract of the suggested scheme, as made out in a report received from the South land Electric Power Board, appeared in the columns of the Southland Times, when the council last discussed the matter, and decided to hold the question over for further consideration. At Friday’s meeting of the council it was decided to further consider the matter, at a special meeting to be held, at which the Power Board engineer, Mi L, B. Hutton, would be asked to be present. The Power Board scheme was again before the council on Friday evening, and the proposals were discussed at length. Mr Walker outlined the proposals and said that members were thoroughly conversant with the scheme. “You know the reason that we are considering this new scheme,” he added. “The Public Works Department and the Post and Telegraph Department are insisting that we should carry out certain improvements, and it may be cheaper to consider this new scheme than carry out the alterations desired. It is demanded that we should make certain alterations, and if we commence on these we don’t know what it will cost or where it will end.” Councillor W. D. McArthur: The Power Board took over the installation of wiring ten years ago. Apparently it must have been up to the Public Works requirements at that’time, or it would not have been passed. If the reticulation of the borough is to be renewed every ten years it does not say much for the standard of our street lighting. Mr Walker: Do you want this discussion to go ahead in open council Councillor A. Watson replied in the affirmative, and as no motion was put forward, Mr Walker said that as members wished, the matter would be discussed openly. Councillor J. T. Butler: Isn’t it the position that the council took over the reticulation and the borough retained the street lighting. That was the way I understood it.

Councillor N. Metzger: Seeing that this matter was left to the Lighting Committee (Councillors Watson and Stenhouse) I would like to hear their report first, before we discuss the matter.

Councillor R. G. Stenhouse: I don’t agree with Councillor Metzger. I understand that this scheme was discussed by the last council, who went into details.

Mr Walker: No, no. The position was the past council received communications from the Public Works and Post and Telegraph Departments, and it was thought at the time that the council would not burden the incoming council, so the question was left over The past council did not have sufficient on its estimates. It would not have been fair to have the job half completed. Scheme Not Understood. Councillor Stenhouse said that he would prefer to hear what agreement the council had with the board, and also the actual complaints that had been made. Along with Councillor Watson they aad patrolled the town, and reached their own decisions. Councillor Watson: 1 confess 1 didn't understand the scheme at all. Councillor Butler: Whether we want it or not, there are certain of the proposals that will have to be carried out. Councillor Butler drew attention to a report he had seen in the Press that day, where at an inquest the Coroner had said in a case where a boy was electrocuted, that the public body was responsible fee its lighting system being up-to-date. Mr Walker: That is why the Public Works are shaking this thing up. Part of the present system was installed 25 years ago. Councillor Butler: There is no doubt that we will have to undertake the expenditure of £l2O. It surprises me to know that the whole town is fed from one source. Mr Walker: Apparently from the wrong source. We aren’t getting the full benefit of the light we are paying for. Councillor McArthur: Are you prepared to undertake this scheme without consulting someone outside experts on the matter. Councillor Watson: 1 take it that this is just a suggestion from the Power Board. To my mind the -nly thing that is out of order is the earthing. Councillor Metzger: It is the wiring. You will require new wiring for the front streets. Councillor Watson: Yet we overloaded our lighting system during the King’s Jubilee. It seemed to stand up all right. /' Mr Walker: I thought that the Lighting Committee would have had a report to present. Councillor Stenhouse: We were told to inspect the improved light in front of the school, but we found no difference with those of the back streets. If several improvements were carried out the lighting system would be quite satisfactory. If the new scheme was undertaken only a third of it would be completed in the first year. Improvements Required. Mr Walker: It is a matter on which we decide. When this matter was held over it was pointed out that the present council would be in office for three years, and would see out the completion of the proposals. The Public Works Department are likely to continue pressing us, but if they see that we are making an effort to overcome the trouble they will not be hard. Councillor Watson: I feel that the borough can’t afford to spend much If we have to spend so much on earthing it will have to be done, but as far as the remainder of the scheme goes I am not in favour of it, Mr Walker: If we continue carrying out repairs we may find that it will cost more in the long run than the new system. That is the way I look at it. I don’t want to make the Power Board a present of anything, bu: it is obvious that something will have to be done. We have to discuss the position as it arises ,and come to a decision in the best interests of the ratepayers. At the present we are paying for more light than we are getting the use of. It is when we start carrying out repairs that we will run into the trouble.

At this stage the complaints from the Public Works and the Post and Telegraph Department were read. Mr Walker stated that when the present system was installed it was in accordance with the Public Works regulations, but in the interests of the community the regulations had apparently been tightened in the meantime. The council bad not done a great deal to Improve its lighting system, and it was now forced to do something. It was the council's duty to get down to some understanding. The expenditure of £3OO, which the scheme would cost, was not a great deal, spread over three years. Councillor F„ Tilley expressed the opinion that as It was desirable that something had to bo done It was the

council’s duty to make the most satisfactory arrangement. Councillor Metzger: This report shows a great deal of initiative on the part of the Power Board. Service Criticized. Councillor Butler said that one of the most important questions was, that the town was being supplied from only orie source. ( Councillor Watson: The Power Board isn’t giving us service, if we are paying for light that we aren’t getting. Councillor Stenhouse: I still maintain that we should get further advice. Councillor Watson: I am quite satisfied to carry out the Public Works Department’s improvements and no more. I feel that we require more lines, but we can’t afford any. more. Councillor Butler: I am not satisfies, with the street lighting as it is at present, nor the service that is being given residents. Councillor Watson: Our business is street 'ighting and we have nothing to do with house lighting. We should be buying our power in bull like others and I hope that the Government take it over—and I hope it will not be long—and we will then get a very fair service. Further discussion followed and it was decided that a special meeting be held to further consider the proposal at which the Power Board engineer, Mr L. B. Hutton, would be asked to be present.