CONTROL ORDER ISSUED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23752, 25 September 1942, Page 5

CONTROL ORDER ISSUED

ELECTRICAL WIRING OF BUILDINGS POWERS GIVEN TO SUPPLY AUTHORITIES (PA.) ■ WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. “The distribution of electrical wire! and cables has been subject to control for several months, but owing to a deterioration in the supply position « has become necessary to impose restrictions on the use of these materials,” said the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), discussing the Building Emergency Regulations, 1939, Amendment No. 3, and the Building Construction Control Notice No. 13, gazetted to-night. “The new regulations, together with the Building Construction Control Notice,” said Mr Sullivan, “provide machinery whereby the Building Controller may direct electrical supply authorities in respect to the issuing of electrical-wiring permits, and whereby electrical 5 sufifcly authorities may decline pehnlts where, such action is necessary to conserve materials. “The control is designed to prohibit the use of electrical cables to install electrical cooking, heating, and lighting appliances in those instances where some other form of cooking, heating, or lighting exists, and to eliminate excessive or uneconomical installations in all new buildings. Extensions or alterations to wiring installations in existing buildings are also controlled.” The Minister added that it was not intended to prevent existing and essential wiring installations from being maintained in good order, nor was it desired that the control notice should be interpreted in such a way as adversely to affect primary or other essential production. General directions and wide discretionary powers had been given, to electrical supply authorities, which would be responsible to the Building Controller for administration of the control. By the decentralising of administration to 90-odd electrical supply authorities, the building 'industry would' be able to obtain prompt decisions on whether various classes of electrical wiring installations could be carried out.