INSPECTION OF MACHINERY

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 291, 2 September 1908, Page 2

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY

A GOVERNMENT BILL NUMEROUS AMENDING CLAUSES. The Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill, which has been introduced by the Hon. J. - A. Millar, proposes a; number of-; detail amendments of tho existing. law. The Governor may by Order in Council declare that any specified kind of .machinery., shall cease to be subject to the Act. No, hydfaulic, electric,,or.other, lift of any kind, .other than a .lift ••'}worked by hand, . shall be wjarked unless in charge of a male. not>_ less than 18 years of . age. - . - Notification of repairs or alterations to machinery, as well 1 as to boilers, must ba made, to tho inspector. • • , The penalty for-increasing the'pressure of a boiler beyond that, granted in, the certificate is to bo a fine not exceeding £100. •After April 1, 1909, glass' water gauges fitted to boilers must be suitably protected.. IN. CHARGE OF ENGINES.. In- regard' to steam turbine stationary engines:—(a) If of 15 aggregate horse-power or under, no certificated engine-driver shall be required; (b) if the aggregate-' horsepower is over 15 and under 25, an- enginedriver holding a certificate not lower than second. class shall be in charge; and (c) if . the aggregate horse-power is 25 or over, ■ a first-class engine-driver, shall be in charge. An engine-driver who : absents himself, from : his charge, and every owner of an engine and boiler \Vlio requires- him to so absent • himself, commits ail offence-.,. : Power is given to the ..chief inspector of machinery to insist that., in certain cases the boilers and engine shall be in chargo of separate persons. . . When crank-shafts aro coupled, th'e, class of driver required will be determined with reference to the combined-circular inch area, of the.combined cylinders..No one who has lost a hand or- a foot shall act as tho driver of a locomotive steamengine or ; winding-engine:- - The penalty' on the driver and employer-is not exceeding. £5 a day. .. ." GRANTING jOE CERTIFICATES. . A. certificate of 1 service shall' rank equally with a certificate of competency. r Power is'given to the Minister'to appoint a chairman and secretary of the .Examining Boards under the Mining Acts. -v-. • ; Every applicant- for examination. must' be a British subject, and satisfy the.board that he'can .speak and write the English lan-. guage sufficiently to be-able to : perfohrt tli'e duties he : is~ required •to perfonh as the holder of a certificate. ;r

The provision in the principal.Act-giving, the board power to grant 'or- refuse' .a certificate upon any grounds it deems advisable is to .be repealed, Proof of service may in certain caseß. b9 given by statutory declaration.' -- l-' 1 -' : : An applicant for a certificate must produce a medical certificate showing that he is not wholly or partially deaf, nor has defective eyesight', nor is subject to any other infirmity likely to interfere with the efficient discharge of his duties. ■ - • Recognition is provided for' railway locomotive drivers' certificates, including thoso.' employed on the Manawatu Railway or;'ahy British railway. . ' • „■ ; motors. Tho provisions of - the • principal Act relating to. the employment of certificated, enginedrivers will, not apply .to. any motor. : .-J.) The provisions of tho Act-with respect-to the inspection of machinery and the granting of certificates, will apply'to all vehicles propelled by steam,and to all motors of a. weight over three tons." . No vehicle driven by mechanical power which exceeds two tons in weight maytba driven by any person under the age of 18 years. - . . ' ' ' . "Motor;" means a vehicle propelled by. its own mechanical power, -and so constructed as not for',, etait smoke,; steam; or visible Vapour, except' froin any temporary or accidental cause. ' . This provision is not to ;: apply to any gine ( His6d on a Government-hiilway or to any vehicle used upon a tramway other than a .steam'engine.! v. l .:': : 1