POWER LINES.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 3

POWER LINES.

POLES AND WIRES. INCREASES IN BREAKS. A Public Works Department report shows that poles belonging to electric supply authorities in the Dominion amounting to 561 were broken during the year ended March -31, 1930. The figure for the same period in 1929 was 128, and in 1928 65. The report states that the increase would appear to indicate that inspection of poles is inadequate in some cases, otherwise a number of defective poles would have been detected and replaced before failure took place. In the 561 failures reported for 1930 359 (64 per cent.) were New Zealand bluegum, with an average life of five to seven years. The estimate shows that although the failures for 1930 represent but $ of 1 per cent, of the poles in use (497,000), this figure was to some extent overshadowed by the relatively rapid rate at which failures were increasing each year. As regards broken wires the report stated that trees were responsible for nearly 41 per cent, in 1930, as compared with 34.32 per cent, in 1929.

The evidence was sufficient, concluded the report, to warrant supply authorities paying particular attention to the frequent inspection of poles to detect defective ones before actual failure, the removal or trimming of all trees likely .to menace electric lines, and the frequent inspection and testing of protecting relays.