MENDING FUSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 18 June 1924, Page 3

MENDING FUSES

DANGERS OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS EXPERT WORKMANSHIP NECESSARY | (United Tress Association.) AUCKLAND, June 16. Interesting evidence regarding electrical installations was given at an inquiry before Mr Hunt, S.M., into a recent tire at the city markets. F. F. Gilmour, electrical inspector for the Underwriters’ Association, after describing the condition of the fittings after.the fire, was crossexamined by Mr Ostler, who appeared for every insurance company in the Dominion except the State Department. Mr Ostler: “The regulations cast the onus on the licensee in this case lire Power Board, to see that the rules of the Underwriters’ Association shall be followed when making an installation.’’ Witness: “Yes. 1 do not consider it a wise policy that the public should be encouraged to mend fuses on their own installations. It is a. job that should bo done by an expert. I have seen homemade fuses of nails, pennies, liairprns, and blades of fable knives.” Mr Ostler (reading from a pamphlet issued by the Power Board): “Every house should fiave some spare fuse wire and every housewife should know how to put new wire in tiie fuse on the switchboard when lights fail - Ask our meterreaders to show you how to do it.” Is that good information ! Witness: “No.” In answer to Mr Ostler, and dealing with the danger of electrocution, witness said that the lowest voltage known to Lave electrocuted a man was 73.8 volts. In 1923, in witness’s own district there were 23 lires from electrical sources, the damage amounting to £42,000. E• R.. Shepherd, chief electrical inspector for New Zealand for the Underwriters’ Association, stated that in his opinion, the fire emanated from an electrical source caused by defects m the system. Witness had seen other defects. The fire would have been avoided had inspections been carried out as laid down in the Public Works Act. An installation should be inspected before being connected with the current, and then inspected frequently. A rigid system of licensing electrical linesmen should have also been followed.

To Mr Ostler, be said that from 1902 to 1923, the number of fatal accidents from electrical causes was 30, and the number »f accidents 31. A large number of those bad been caused on bouseohld installations. In every ease on the list showing the number of fires from electrical origins in the Dominion, Auckland beads the list. General rules for wiring were intended to contain only such vcquireinenis and precautions as were generally necessary and not to instruct untrained persons. The Underwriters’ Association would not be equally to blame with the Power Board in regard to a faulty installation being passed. The underwriters’ inspectors did not inspect every installation ; that would need air army of inspectors, and there was no statutory obligation on the underwriters to inspect. In regard -to periodical inspection after installation, once in a year might be advisable for a factory, and once in five years might be sufficient in the case of a- private bouse. Sidney Eldridge Hennings manager and chief engineer tr. the electrical department. of A. and T. Burt, said thatthere was a feeling ot uneasiness among reputable funis, consequent on complaints of faulty _ wiring, as it placed them under suspicion, and also because the extra cost- of supervision must be borne by them. They sought a svsfem of inspection. Tire Power Board was Reining to a certain extent by the issue of licenses through its licensing board. Decision was reserved.