“Faults In N.Z.-Made Goods Caused By Carelessness”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29984, 20 November 1962, Page 17

“Faults In N.Z.-Made Goods Caused By Carelessness”

A large percentage of the faults detecifed by Consumer Service in appliances it has examined has been caused through carelessness or lack of observing sound trade practice, says a letter from the chairman of the Consumer Service Council 'Mr G. E. Wood) to the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation.

The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association has sent a copy of the letter to aill its members.

Giving an example of faults caused by carelessness or bad trade practice, the letter says that of 19 New Zea-land-made motor mowers examined, 13 were found to embody faults such as motor out of alignment, poorly finished guide tube for starter cord, badly adjusted blades, badly fitting catcher, badly fitting handles or handles failing off. “Among other examples we couild cite are life jackets with poor tape attachments; five out of eight floor polishers with driving belts that slip or badly fitted buffing pads or with strands of conductor at the termination of tihe flex; two out of five tumbler clothes driers had loose earthing and neutral lead connexions. Seven out of 12 fan connectors had faults such as twisted internal connexions or ambiguously marked mains terminals. Half the vacuum cleaners tested had sharp edges on catch projections or unreliably soldered joints. In one case the end of a fan shaft touched the cleaner base,” says the letter. It continued: “Although the bulk of these faults is in electrical appliances, we do not suggest that they are limited to electrical appliance manufacturers. It just happens that Consumer Service has conducted a substantial portion of its tests in this field. From complaints we receive in the mail every day (not all justified by any means) we have noted the following valid ones—garments out of alignment with weave, poor finish to seams in all types of clothes, shoddy lining and pockets, badly welded or fitted handles to saucepans and teaspats, badly fitted plastic linings or doors an refrigerators and deep freeze units, roughly finished rims of preserving jars, stitches coming apart in footwear and badly fitted heels, umbrella ribs which rust or break easily, and so an. “Our purpose in mentioning all these is to say that there are so many ascertaining faults and complaints as to

leave little doubt that poor inspection and passing out in factories, as well as poor workmanship and finish, are undoubtedly the causes. “Whenever we publish a report of our tests, those manufacturers with faulty products nearly always suggest that we have made an unfortunate purchase. We are. I hope, the first to admit that a poor product could have slipped through and. of course, our reports relate only to the products actually tested or examined. We are satisfied, however, from the continual recurrence of faults of the type mentioned that bad manufacture as distinct from bad design, is widely in evidence. This trouble seems basic to much of New Zealand industry and we consider that many articles of otherwise good quality are spoiled in this way.” Mr Wood said. “The Finance Act, 1959. which authorised the establishment of Consumer Service, provides that our organisation should protect the interests of consumers and so

encourage the development of industry and commerce. Although some manufacturers may think the contrary, this latter interest has not been absent from the council’s approach to its task. “Particularly at a time of rapid industrial development and especially when there is the need to obtain the utmost value from the expenditure of precious overseas funds on raw materials and when it is essential to develop also, New Zealand skills, the council is concerned to see that the consumer. whether here or overseas, does; not form an unfavourable impression of New Zealand-made goods.

“To this end I am authorised by my council to write to you in the lines above and to pass on the following resolution: ‘That the chairman be authorised to write to the Manufacturers’ Federation, drawing attention to the lack of finish with certain products and suggesting the need for closer inspection of goods before they leave the factories’,” the letter concludes.