D-4

The following licences and permits to use water-power and /or to erect and use electric lines were also issued, revoked, or assigned : Electric- Private Electric Lines— supply lndiLicences— Authorities. viduals. Issued .. .. .. .. .. 9 3 Assigned .. .. .. .... 3 Revoked .. .. .. .... 1 Permits issued .. .. .. .... 1 Use of Water Power—{a) To generate electricity— Licences — Issued .. .. .. 1 5 Assigned .. .. .. .... 3 Revoked .. .. .. 1 2 Permits — Issued .. .. .. .... 7 Assigned .. .. .. .... 1 (6) To drive machinery — Permit issued .. .. .. .... 1 Combined electric lines and water-power licences— Issued .. .. .. .. .... 6 Assigned .. .. .. .. .... 3 Revoked .. .. .. .. .... 4 Permits to carry out wiring work in connection with private plants: Issued .. .. .... 147 Fifty-five Electric Supply Authorities gave notice of their intention to make a total of 622 extensions to their electric lines. There were 3,695 broken wires and 256 broken poles reported by Authorities. The principal causes of the wires being broken were : trees, 1,112 (30-1 per cent.); contact, 1,054 (28-5 per cent.); gale, 450 (12-2 per cent.); vibration, 144 (3-9 per cent.); pole hit by vehicle, 127 (34 per cent.) ; binder failure, 93 (2-5 per cent.).

The following table shows the number of electrical accidents reported compared with the previous year :

35

Year ended 31st March, 1948. Year ended 31st March, 1947. Fatal. Non-fatal. Total. Fatal. Non-fatal. Total. Child (up to seven years inclusive) 6 2 8 2 3 5 Commercial (shops, offices, &c.) 1 1 Domestic (hotels, boardinghouses, &c.) i 5 6 i 3 4 Electrical iinemen 9 9 I 5 6 Electrical worker (other than linemen) 3 6 9 2 4 6 General public 1 3 4 4 3 7 Industrial (factories, workshops, &c.) 1 1 i 1 Other trades 5 5 2 5 7 Other workers 6 6 2 2 Painters 1 1 Plumbers 1 1 Telephone linemen 1 1 2 2 *2 4 Young persons (over seven but not over 2 2 4 1 1 fifteen years) Total 15 42 57 16 27 43 Mechanical (fall from pole, &c.) 2 1 3 Stock 2 2 23 . 23