MORE LIGHT

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6901, 15 September 1900, Page 4

MORE LIGHT

The system of street lighting which prevails in New Zealand appears to give pretty general satisfaction. For the most part the street? are well lighted. Here in Christchurch, fop instancy, the streets are supplied with plenty of lamps, most <of which aa-e modern contrivances calculated to prpyide enough light to illuminate the whole of the thoroughfares. If there is a reason for complaint against the system in vogue here, it lieS not in the number of lamps, but jn the length of time which the lamps are kept alight. The majority of, them are extinguished before midnight, and for the remainder of the night the; city is left to rely for light upon the moon and stars. arrangement might have done twenty years ago, but the public has a right to expect something better nowadays. During that portion of the month when the moon is shining, the absence pf artificial light is nob a particularly grave drawback, but when the moon, is hjdden from view, or when her light is obscured by cflojids, the want of light .becomes serious. T{i may. be urgsd in reply that all good citizens ought to bs at home and in bed by midnight. So, in theory, tlhey ought, bub in practice some of them find this impo§sjble.. Their duty calls thorn to remain out of doors, and they are often cpnipelled by their ocoupaltion to work until tihe early hours of the morning. Is it right that these men should be denied the comfort and protection afforded by lighted streets? Cerr tainly not. It is not as if it was a difficult matter to provide light throughout the Jijght. A corner lamp here and there, would be sufficient, and these cpuld be extinguished by the police as the breaking of day rendered their light no longer necessaiy. Rods fqr the Purpose could be kept, jn suitable cup* boards ab convenient places, and the master key for the system by the constable pm the beat.