LIVE WIRE DANGER

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17712, 16 May 1929, Page 6

LIVE WIRE DANGER

DESTRUCTION OF STOCK. PROBLEM OF COMPENSATION. IS LIGHTNING ACT OF GOD? The question of whether farmers whose stock was killed or injured by contact with live wires should receive compensation was raised at the meeting of tiie Central Power Board to-day, when the engineer reported that a cow belonging to Mr N. Nicol, Te Kowhai, -had been electrocuted, The accident was due to a fault in a field pump caused by lightning. Mr E. F. Pcacocke considered it was scandalous if a farmer was not covered should an animal be killed by a severed connection caused by lightning. A member: It’s an act of God.

Mr Boyd stated that the Government allowed something for animals killed by its operations. The Power Board took a risk by placing lines through farms.

Mr W. Lee Martin, M.P., remarked that progress had to lie paid for. In regard to the Arapuni lines tile Waikato farmers bore all the risk and Auckland City received all the benefit. He added that the Government had compensated farmers to the extent of £lO for steel towers' and £1 for poles. This included the land. Mr W. Henry thought that if farmers put in claims they might receive satisfaction. Mr Lee Marlin said some settlers Intended making a test case out of the compensation question, but found they each had to put In separate claims. This was in connection with the main line from Arapuni to Auckland. The risk was infinitely less on the big lines than on the smaller.

The secretary, Mr H. J. Becche, remarked that Mr Nicol had not claimed for tile cow.

The matter was referred to the sec rotary.