COMMUNITY LIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1925, Page 8

COMMUNITY LIGHTING.

REDUCED CHARGES WANTED. COUNCIL REFUSES REQUEST. Au application by the New Plymouth Retailers’ Association for an appreciable reduction in the charges for community street lighting was refused iby the New Plymouth Borough Council last night. The secretary of the association (Mr. S. E. Nielson) advised the council that certain retailers were seriously talking of discontinuing the service, while others would not come into the scheme on account of the cost. The opinion had been expressed that the retailers were doing more than their share in the lighting of Devon Street, and were obviously saving the borough the expense of extra street lighting. The lights prevented the loitering of undesirables in alleyways and shop doorways, and generally assisted the authorities in maintaining the good conduct observed in the streets of New Plymouth. In view of these facts Mr. Nielson said he was directed to ask for an appreciu'ble reduction in the charges for the service. This would more evenly distribute the cost of lighting Devon Street, and also assist shopkeepers in retaining the Sunday night lighting as at present, instead of abolishing it, as had been suggested.. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) pointed out that the scheme was not inaugurated to improve the lighting of Devon Street, but to improve the lighting of the shopkeepers’ windows. If the lighting of the street was to be improved the council would not erect the lights under the verandahs, but on the street, and if the verandahs interfered with the distribution of the light there w r as a remedy. Verandahs were permitted only during the pleasure of the council.

The annual charge for each lamp was £3 13s 6d a Mr. Wilson continued, and that charge included the replacement of globes and general maintenance, including cleaning. One unit of electricity would burn for ten hours, and at 7d a unit the charge was very reasonable. It was practically the same as for inside lighting. In Hawera the charge was 7d per unit net, and in Eltham it was £4 15s a year, this charge including maintenance. Mr. Wilson added that before the community scheme was introduced some of the shopkeepers had maintained lights on the

street, and he considered that if he were a shopkeeper he would be very pleased, to have his windows illuminated for seven nights in the week for £3 13s 6d a year. Or. J. Jemison remarked, regarding th© contention that the lighting prevented loitering, tbst the way in which some of the shopkeepers were having their shop fronts built encouraged that practice.