ELECTRIC WIRING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18630, 11 February 1924, Page 9

ELECTRIC WIRING.

DEFECTS IN INSTALLATION. BAD WORKMANSHIP. SAFEGUARDS SUGGESTED. The need for further measures for the protection of the public against the risks involved by defective electrical installations was discussed yesterday by a consulting electrical engineer. He said that since the Electric Lighting Act of 1882, the electric wiring industry in all countries had been subject to continuous change in current consuming devices and standards, and of course in various regulations. These conditions tended to keep the larger firms from investing capital in a business which by them was looked upon as a necessary evil, or simply a means of turning over their stocks. Thus the smaller firms, and even ex-employees, came to carry on the house-wiring business.

Owing to spasmodic development of generation and distribution in local areas, the stress of competition forced down prices with the natural result of scamped and defective labour and material by a few unscrupulous employers and employees, in spite of regulations, and more regulations ad infinitum.. "In my opinion the elimination of these unscrupulous individuals would raise the whole status of the business and enable the reliable contractor, large or small, to get a fair return on his capital invested, and a reasonable remuneration for his services without seriously increasing the purchase price. "It seemis to me that the wholesale and indent houses have the cure in their own hands. Let them simply refuse to give credit or material to such persons who do or have done bad work, and let no master wireman employ the incompetent or unscrupulous wireman. With the ordinary regulations and inspection, and a reasonable price for services rendered the main incentive to bad workmanship or material would be removed." The engineer added that Mr. Gilmore, who naturally in his official position sees the worst side of the picture, docs not give much credit to the electrical industry for the balance of the 41,961 installations in the province, which apparently proved quite satisfactory. He thought it would be wise for the public to take a broad and balanced view of the subject before becoming unduly alarmed. A correspondent writes: —My experience bears out largely the points raised. Some years ago, when competition in house-wiring was probably not so keen as it seems to be to-day, electric light was installed in my house. This section of the work has never given trouble; no attention has been given to the switches (which are of English manufacture), or to the fuses. Recently, it was necessary for some additions to be made to the system when I accepted what I now believe to be an unduly low figure for the work. I was assured that all the materials used were of British manufacture, and have every reason to believe that I was not deceived in this connection. However, the fact remains that there has been a very considerable amount o'f trouble with the additions, and in view of Mr. Gilmore's statements regarding defective wiring, etc., I now make a point each night of turning off the main switch after putting the milk jug and the cat out. At first I blamed the contractor for my troubles, but have since concluded that I no doubt got the job I paid for in each case. It all comes back to the old saying, "If you want a good article (or Job) you must pay for it." There should, lowever, be some protection for the erring ones, as there is always a tendency to accept the lowest prices, and it is to be hoped that the Herald articles on this subject will set the ball rolling in the right direction.