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Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 4

Air E. Hitchcock, general manager of the City Council’s electricity department. has sent the following letter to the Mayor: “The department has recently been tho subject of a particularly annoying and objectionable practice on the part of some irresponsible members of the . public. A week ago, a member of the staff was advised by telephone that overhead lines were down and lights out in Westminster Street, St Albans. At II o'clock on February 8. a message was received reporting that a tree had fallen across the line at River Road, Opawa, and overhead lines were brought clown and the neighbourhood was in darkness. On each occasion, upon the arrival of the men and vehicle with the necessary repair equipment, it was found that the call was a hoax. It is difficult fur the public to appreciate the position the members of the staff ore. placed in on receipt of such a message. Should reliability of the message? be doubted and no steps taken to investigate, a serious accident may happen and the department incur a heavy liability. On tb© other hand, the calling out of men at a late hour at night results in cost and inconvenience. It is proposed to take vigorous action in the event, of anyone being detected in giving false? alarms of this kind, and it is most desirable that a full publicity should be given, and an appeal made to the public to do all in their power to prevent such occurrences.”