WARNING TO WIREMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 5

WARNING TO WIREMEN.

PROSECUTION AT WHANGAREI. MOTOR MECHANIC FINED. REGISTRATION ESSENTIAL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Monday. A case intended as a warning, the first of the kind in North Auckland, was taken in the Whangarei Magistrate's Court to-day, when the Electrical Wiremeii's Registration Board proceeded against R. M. Smith for making a switch connection without being a registered wireman. In prosecuting/ Mr. J. F. Briggs said defendant connected a small motor generating set to an accumulator, and in doing so he had neglected to provide a ground wire. Mr. Briggs mentioned dangerous practises which were often adopted by amateurs. Usually two leads ran from a battery, and if a third was not run off for a ground wire there was a distinct element of risk. In Whangarei, counsel said, a workman employed by one of the largest engineering firms, was operating a drill which had no ground wire when he received a shock and was only saved by others noticing his plight and switching off the power. On another occasion a, woman was nearly electrocuted when using a washing machine which had no earth wire. ' Mr. Crimp, for defendant, entered a plea of guilty. He said Smith was a motor mechanic, and he was habitually called upon to attend to small electrical sets. The generator in question was a small one, imported from America, where it evidently complied with the regulations. The New Zealand regulations governing electrical appliances, counsel declared, were recognised as the most stringent in the world. Electrical engineers had repeatedly, appealed to the Government for the constitution of an approval board to' classify goods which came into the country. The magistrate said the publicity given to the case would probably educate people to the danger of ignoring the regulation and allowing any but those who were qualified to make installations. The penalty for the offence was £10, and any future offender would be dealt with severely. Smith was fined 10/ and costs 10/, and ordered to pay solicitor's fee of £1 1/.