CITY LIGHTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 249, 21 October 1936, Page 6

CITY LIGHTING

PROTEST BY WOMEN’S GUILD LIGHTS THAT DO NOT SHINE Street lighting in the city of Wanganui was discussed by the City council last night. The Townswomen's Guild wrote protesting against the dark streets which, it was believed, facilitated molestation of women and girls. Cr. G. H. Irott complained that three lights within close range of Victoria Avenue had been “extinct” for three consecutive nights. The council decided to refer the matter of “extinct” lights to the Power Board. Cr. J. J. Scott complained that Wanganui was one of the worst lit ci lies he knew. Cr. G. H. Trott: Perhaps we want some new blood on the Power Board. Cr. Scott: 1 was just thinking that myself. (Laughter.) After a decision to refer “extinct” lights to the board the letter from lhe Townswomen’s Guild was read. This said that women and girls likely to be molested would be reluctant to make direct complaints to the police. Cr. A. E. Halligan: That is a very open letter and a wide and open charge. It does not specify any particular place and is a slur on our city, i think the city is well lit. The speaker was ot opinion that the board would be well advised to keep an advertisement running in both local papers asking people to ring the board when lights failed to function. Cr. Scott said that while an advertisement might do some good, the trouble was that what was everybody’s business was nobody's. Something more should be done to make the board aware ot its responsibility. The city was paying tor lights and not getting a quid pro quo tor those lights which did .not function. He would like to see it recommended to the board that it afford a margin of extra lights for those which become ‘extinct from time to time He commended the public-spirited action of the Townswomen’s Guild. It was studying the welfare of its fellowcitizens, he said. Cr. J. D. Crowley said that so far as his locality was concerned he had never advised the Power Board of a • light that was not functioning but l that it was restored within twenty- • four hour;-'. | Cr. Scott: Personally, I have no i fault to find with the board restoring | . //s after it has beer*. apprised of i w fact th:;'. they are out, but lights • have been our. for weeks on end. I Everybody’s busuess ! • been 1 nobody’s bv.sine.’®.