AUCKLAND FIRE INQUIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19200, 17 June 1924, Page 8

AUCKLAND FIRE INQUIRY.

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS. INTERESTING EVIDENCE. (Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 16. Interesting evidence regarding the electrical installations was given at an inquiry before Mr Hunt, S.M., into the recent fire at the City Markets. Mr F. F Gumour electrical inspector for the underwriters’ after describing the condition of the fittings after the fire, was cross-examined by Mr Ostler, for the ■various insurance companies in the dominion except that of the State DepaX’tment. Mr Ostler: The regulations cast the onus ox. the licensee —in this case the Power Board—to see that the rules of the Underwriters’ Association should be followed when making installations. “ Yes. I do not consider it a wise policy,” continued the witness, “ that the public should be encouraged to mend fuses on their own installations. It is a job that should be done by an expert. I have seen home-made fuses of nails, pennies, hairpins, and blades of tables knives. Mir Ostler (reading from a pamphlet issued by the Power Board): “ Every house should have some spare fuse or wire, and every housewife should know how to put a new wire in the fuse on the switchboard when the lights fail.” Dealing with the danger of electrocution, witness said that the lowest voltage known to have electrocuted a man was 738 volts. In 1923, in witness’s own district, there were 213 fires from electrical sources, the damage amounting to £42,000. Mr F. 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 in the system. Witness had seen other defects, and he considered there was grave impropriety on the part of the linesman concerned, Ihe fire would have been avoided had inspections been carried out as laid down in the Public Works Act. The installation should be inspected before being connected with the current, and then inspected frequently. A rigid system of the licensing of electrical linesmen should also have been followed. To Mr Ostler: From 1902 to 1922 the number of fatal accidents from electrical causes was 30, and the number of accidents 31. A largo number of them had been caused on household installations. In every case on the list showing the number of (ires from electrical in the dominion Auckland headed the list.” Mr Shepherd stated, in reply to Mr Ostler, that the general rules for wiring were intended to contain only such requirements 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 faulty installation being passed. The underwriters’ inspectors did not inspect every installation—tliat would need an army of inspectors, and there was no statutory obligation on (he part of the underwriters to inspect With 1-egard to periodical inspection after installation, once in a year might be advisable for a factory and once in live years might be sufficient in ihe case of a private house. Sidney E'ldridge Konnings, chief engineer to the electrical department of Messrs A. and T. Burt, said that there was i feeling of uneasiness among reputable firms consequent on the pomplaints of faulty wiring, as it placed them under suspicion, and also because the extra, cosl of supervision must bo borne by thorn, they sought a system of inspection. The Power Board was helping to a certain extent by the issue of licenses through its Licensing Beard f Decision was reserved.