POWER INSPECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20628, 29 July 1930, Page 7

POWER INSPECTIONS.

CONTROL OF OFFICIALS.

DEPARTMENT OR BOARD. | PROTEST AT PROCEDURE. A protest against tlic regulations of the Public Works Department relating to the inspection of electrical installations was made by Mr. R.. H. Bartley, general manager of thg Auckland Electric-Power Board, in a report presented at a meeting of the board yesterday. Mr. Bartley said inspectors employed and paid by tlie board wore really responsible to the department, and he added: "My recommendation is that we should immediately communicate with the Wiremen's Registration Board and protest emphatically against this procedure; in fact, take even a step further, and say definitely that it will not be tolerated. " I feel that some drastic action is required at once," Mr. Bartley continued. "As one does not have to look very far to appreciate what a continuance of these methods will lead to I can see only one solution, which is that either the board or the Government individually should be responsible, and if the latter, then surely it is entitled to pay the inspectors. The Public Works Department regulations place certain responsibilities on the inspectors which are clearly those of the supply authority. Unfortunately, the supply authority had no say whatsoever in the framing of the regulations, but wo have always done our best to live up to them, and at the same time protect the interests of our consumers." 9

" A Dangerous Procedure." ISTr. Hartley said lie bad issued definite instructions to the board's inspectors that they were not to art in matters affecting the interests of its consumers except under the instructions of tho board. This was a very important and necessary procedure, first, to ensure that there would be uniformity in the interpretation of the regulations; second, that the interests of tho board's consumers would be protected in the enforcing of the regulations; third, to protect the inspectors themselves; and fourth, that the board should retain control over its own staff.

" I have had placed in my hands two letters under the signature of the registrar, sent to the privato addresses of our inspectors, concerning installations inspected by them," Mr. Bartley said. " In the first place it is a most dangerous procedure on the part of the registrar to address letters of this soit to the residences of the board's employees. In the second place I cannot conceive how the Public Works Department can hold anybody responsible for these matters other than this board, and this board, in turn, must instruct its employees accordingly." Protection o! Consumers. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, said the letters outlined defects in matters which required remedying, most of which were very trilling. The consumers looked to the bourd for protection, but one of these inspectors could cut off powei' for some trifling thing and the board would know nothing about it. Tho attention of the Minister of Public Works should be drawn to the matter.

Sir. T. Bloodworth said the board would lose control of its whole system if the department took it over, as was almost suggested by the report. " The Public Works Department has inspectors to roiuspect (he work of our own inspectors, who feel just as strongly as I do about it," Mr. Bartley said. "They are anxious to remain in the service of the board, but to have no interference. It is possible under the regulations for every inspector to have a different interpretation, so that contractors would never know whether their work was going to pass or not. We have tried to keep to interpretations which aro reasonable."

TW supply engineer, Mr. E. Hutchison.. said the inspectors wore placed in a most invidious position as a result of these inspections Too Much Inspection.

Mr. Bartloy said the complaints were really too childish to mention. They referred to such things as a bolt too long or a screw loose.

"] agrco that, wo should let the department know that this interference will not be tolerated," said Mr. S. I. Crookes. "As in other things it seems to be. a determined effort to cfViitraliso all authority in Wellington. That has got to be stopped. Tbo amount of inspection and over-inspection is a wicked waste. This country is becoming over-ridden by inspection, and it is time some authority decided definitely to get rid of it." Mr. Hartley: It is a deliberate attempt to thwart this board's attitude that its inspectors should take their instructions from the board.

The report was adopted with a modification, and it was decided to ask three inspectors to attend the next meeting of the board in committee.