POWER AND OTHER LINES.

Wairarapa Age, 22 August 1934, Page 5

POWER AND OTHER LINES.

REMOVAL FROM MAIN STREETS. PROPOSAL BY THE CHAMBER Action looking to the gradual and progressive removal from the main streets of overhead power and other lines was discussed a couple of months ago by the Masterton Chamber of Commerce. Reviving this question at the meeting of the Chamber yesterday, the president (Mr. E. M. Hodder) said he thought the time had come when some definite policy should be laid down in regard to new work in the erection of power, telephone and other lines. The policy of doing away with overhead lines and with entry from the main street frontage was already being put into force in some places in New Zealand with good results. In Napier now, a power li.ie was hardly to be found, save at the backs of business buildings and there entry was mostly underground. While he recognised that there were difficulties and obstacles to be overcome, he thought the Wairarapa Power Board should adopt a policy in this matter. Representatives of the Power Board and others concerned should be invited to attend the next meeting of the Chamber, when the whole matter could be discussed. Mr. A. B. Wood observed that there was great need of co-ordination between the different authorities laying wires and pipes. He had come across instances even in rural areas in which this co-ordination was lacking.

There was general agreement with, the views expressed by the president and it was decided that the SecretaryManager and Engineer of the Power Board, the Borough Engineer, the P. and T. Engineer and the County Engineer should be invited to attend the next meeting of the Chamber. It was agreed also to write to Napier and other towns asking for information ns to what was being done towards the removal of wires from tho main streets.