ELECTRICAL GOODS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 81, 6 April 1945, Page 3

ELECTRICAL GOODS

QUESTION OF QUALITY

On behalf of the New Zealand Institute of Electricians, the secretary (Mr. S. Cowley) has commented upon, a statement by Mr. D. I, Macdonaid, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, in reference to remarks made at a recent conference of the institute. ' •

"In the first place," said Mr. Cowley, "the institute is non-political,, nonindustrial, and non-sectarian, its membership comprising supply authority engineers. Public Works Department officers, supply authority inspectors, electrical contractors, and registered ,wiremen. It is a body formed in the. interests of the electrical industry as a whole with some 18 branches operating from North Auckland to Otagoand has no axe to grind other than, the legitimate protection of the profession and the consuming public. "From this it will be seen that the sentiments expressed are not, as stated by Mr. Macdonald, the opinions of some isolated electricians, but those of a body of responsible men who by years of experience are capable of passing judgment. "We take strong exception to the' sweeping statement that the institute condemns 'the whole range of locallymanufactured electrical goods.' This was never stated or implied—many of the goods manufactured are of firstclass quality and compare very highly with imported lines and are a credit to the craftsmanship of the local -manufacturers, but—and there is always a nigger in the wood pile—there are some lines placed on the market that are definitely of poor quality and will not stand up in service. Should Mr. Macdonald question this statement we shall be pleased to supply him with samples of such material or he could visit the office of the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department, where many exhibits will be found. PROTECTION OF PUBLIC. "We as an institute are genuinely concerned over this inferior material whether it be manufactured in New Zealand, Britain, or anywhere else, and we desire that the regulations referred to by Mr. Macdonald be enforced to protect the consuming public of this country. The regulations are there—perhaps Mr- Macdonald in his official capacity may knpw why they are not enforced. Mr. Macdonald's reference to the discussion having nothing to do with quality or hazards is a clever attempt to cloud the issue, butI can assure him that the Institute of Electricians will continue to expose the continued marketing of materials of questionable character. "It is equally true that the institute views with alarm the unrestricted sale of certain electrical material by departmental stores, but not in the way Mr. Macdonald would infer. If he were able to see some of the appalling hook-ups that come before the notice of some of our members, I really think he, too, may view this trading with some apprehension. "Cases of accidents and fatalities are becoming far too common and reference to the coroner's finding in a recent fatality at Auckland should be all that is necessary to convince one that some supervision is urgently required. To offer this material for sale over the counters of departmental stores is analogous with the unrestricted sale of poisons and drugs."