EXPLODING CABLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 810, 2 November 1929, Page 13

EXPLODING CABLES

COMPENSATION FOR SHOP OWNERS NOBODY’S RESPONSIBILITY The serious public- danger from faulty electric cables is proved by the explosion which wrecked the gramophone shop of Howies. Ltd., Karangahape Road, at 2 o’clock yesterday morning. Had tho explosion occurred last evening between 7 o’clock and 9 o'clock numbers of people might have been killed, as the shop itself is usually full during those hours on-i the footpath is crowded. Although tho loss is estimated :it something more than £2,000, Mr. s 5. Holden Howie stated this morning that insurance companies repudiated all responsibility as far as explosions from electric cables were concerned. They paid insurance on damage done by coal-gas explosions, but not electric cable. The Auckland Electric-Power Board does not admit any legal responsibility, although a member said this morning that morally the board was responsible. It is believed that the board will compensate Mi*. Howie for at least some of the damage, if not all of it. The whole subject of cable explosions and the damage done by them will he discussed at the next meeting of the board. Mr. Howie has written to the board asking what it proposes to adopt regarding tho loss to the company. Mr. R. G. Clark, a member of the Power Board, stated this morning that the cables were being renewed as fast as possible.