ELECTRIC WIRING DEFECTS.
THE NEW REGULATIONS. ATTENTION BY GOVERNMENT. The matter of providing some means of safeguarding householders against the risk of fire from faulty electrical installations has recently received some attention in Auckland. This, however, is a problem that is affecting all the populous centres in the Dominion, and there seems to be a diversity of opinion as to who is responsible for seeing that wiremen do their work thoroughly and in accordance with the most modern methods. At present the Public Works Department is engaged on a survey of the electrical supply regulations, and is being assisted by an advisory committee. At the meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board yesterday the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, reported that he had forwarded a copy of his report covering the subject to the advisory committee, and had received a reply from Mr. J. G. Lancaster, a consulting engineer, of Wellington, who is a member of the committee. Mr. Bartley supplied a copy of Mr, Lancaster's letter, in which it was stated that the committee was now going through the regulations, but had not yet reached the regulation which dealt with private installations.
" I fully agree," said Mr. Lancaster, " that we cannot take the responsibility for the maintenance of consumers' installations, and this view is concurred in by, I think, all the electric supply engineers. The point which will be raised will be ' who is to protect the consumer, not against himself, but against the irresponsible wireman V The passing of the Wiremen's Registration Act has, I think, an important bearing on this point. It will be difficult for any wireman to carry out work and not be traced, and pay the penalty—though not to tho consumer for ' shockingly shoddy work.' "
The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, said it would be noticed that the matter was receiving attention in Wellington, and not before it was necessary. The position, he said, had been unsatisfactory for many years, and the amended regulations would go a long way to put things od a better footing, and have the effect of raising the standard throughout the Dominion.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19289, 30 March 1926, Page 13
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354ELECTRIC WIRING DEFECTS. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19289, 30 March 1926, Page 13
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