CORRESPONDENCE ELECTRIC WIRING IN NELSON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 November 1922, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

ELECTRIC WIRING IN NELSON

(To the Editor)

Sir,—^Within the last few days there have been two items of nows in your paper, the importance of which may nob have been noticed. One is the decision of the City Council to defer pasing the proposed new electric rules and by-laws, until further considered. The other is a report of a discussion of the Wanganui City Council on the increasing cost of electric wiling. The connection between these two may not at first be apparent, but every new rule must add to the cost. In most of the New Zealand cities, the electric, wiling- is subject to three distinct, and generally overlapping sets of rules. (1) The Public Works Regulations, which delegate the inside wiring of consumers premises to the “General Rules for Wiring,” issued by the Council of Fire Underwriters of N.Z. subject to appeal by any dissatisfied consumer to the minister, and payment of cost of sending an inspector. (2) The Fire Underwriters’ Asociation Rules, (called Hereinafter F.U.A.). These rules are based on those of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (London, with modifications made by the F.U.A., though why what is good for Great Britain, is not so for N.Z., and whether it would not be more in accordance with the dignity of the country to have its* own Public Works rules for wiring, instead of those of a private body, it is not very clear. r» Now the F.U.A. is an august body, employing able and courteous officers, and can only be spoken of with great respect, at the same time, I must point out that owing to the delegation by the Public Works, it has grown (and will more so every year) to take a place, doubtless never intended, by the Public Works Department. It must immediately be obvious that the interests of the F.U.A., the electrical trade, and the consumer, may be widely different. You have advertisements in your paper by electrical contractors, stating that they are “approved” and “certificated.” By whom? By the F.U.A. In other words no one in tho electrical trade stands any chance of employment, unless he has the marks of the F.U.A. Surely this approval should be done by an independent general electrical board of New Zealand, like the existing Plumbers’ Association. The interests of the F.U.A. would seem to he that all work should be done to! their always rising standard, regardless of cost to consumers. The interests of the electrical trade, would certainly be against any reduction *of cost to consumers as' long as there is plenty of work, and so perhaps welcome the regulations of the F.U.A. restricting employment of wiremen to those who have been at the trade for a number of years. Now while there are cases, such : as in public buildings, where there oc- i cur problems of illumination, and wiving complications, requiring very expert' knowledge, in the ordinary cottages, and j most houses, the wiring work is of such ' a straight forward and simple kind that | an intelligent man, especially if already 1 a good plumber or mechanic, could learn to do the work in a very mud) ( shorter time than required by the regulations. The number of years expert'-1 cnee has little to do with the ability of; a wireman, as while one man may learn to do good work in a short time, i another may never do so in any length of time, the inevitable result of such regulations is that' employment of local ; men is restricted, and that men are imported from outside districts, all helping increase cost to consumer. These regulations about, men seem to rest on no authority from Public Yorks Department ami only obtain sanction by being introduced into local city bylaws, as is now proposed m Nelson. The consumer of course, requires his work to give a reasonable safety, but at as low a cost as posible computable therewith. It by no means follows that the enforcement of their full requirements by the F.U.A. is to his interest, unless (as I believe is often done in Great, Britain) bv the adoption of such requirements the existing premiums are reduced. By common report the steel, conduit system of wiring is to be exclusively enforced in Nelson. This is probably the best, but is also the most expensive system. There arc two other systems generally used m Great Britain, the wood casing, (which is bev coming obsolete), and the lead sheathed rubber insulated, either twin of concentric.* This latter system has now been greatly developed by soveial makcis, and is very extensively used. (/here arc already examples of it m Nelson). It is allowed bv all insurance companies at Homo, including those British companies who aye members ol the in./j. F.U.A. and who don’t allow it here. It lias inanv advantages compared with steel conduit, being cheaper im.ro flexible, can be run on surface without being unsightly, and does not cut about the house and decorations, ibis system is admirably suited lor cottage vi ing, and in the interests of.thc consumer should have a great claim to bo a - lowed if properly fitted. , (3) The Local City Electric Rules and By-laws, which have been postponed by the Council. Those should certainly be published for public discussion moo Ling passed, as the cost. of w ring must be increased by /heir adoption Thc t m. a. “ SState 1 t a tl.ings lU.t the

Public Works DcpuHiiiout would not. give them. One of the items »PP e «'; s to he the setting up of a bourn 10 t-' amine wircmcilt) before issuing cates (one of the bottl'd to be ».‘ ,C FV*I sentative of F.U.A.). At first eight this seems good, but a little coilSHieUniOlJ will show that it is not. The certihchtes of such examining bodies as the London City and Guilds, who must understand how to really test aspirants, should be good enough. It is absurd that every village in New Zealand tnar may have a toy electric plant should set' up its own little examining boa id charging fees. Examination is no safeguard for good work. An incompeten. can be at once “spotted” and suppressed, but a, plausible man may have the knowledge to pass any examination ami yet deliberately scrap Ins work when no one is looking. From what is said above it will be understood that the cost to the consumer for his wirm o must ever tend upward, as more lations are made continually, i ,)C b leave most respectfully to suggest he following in the public interest, as the tendency at present is to make electric tv soon a monopoly of the rich. (1) in. u the Public Works Department should alone assume the task of regulating the electrical trade, and have its own rules, which should he compiled to meet the interests of all concerned, including the now neglected consumer. (2) That the electrical trades should form their own association to issue certificates of efficiency to suitable persons. - I am etc.. x A. BURTON.