RADIO SALESMAN FINED

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 7

RADIO SALESMAN FINED

BREACHES OF WIRING REGULATIONS

COURT DISMISSES CASE AGAINST EMPLOYER

Pleading guilty to two charges of breaches of the electrical wiremens regulations, Seddon Robert Murdoch (Mr N. L. Watson) was fined £2 and costs in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M. Defendant, a radio salesman, was charged with performing electrical wiring work while not being the holdei of a provisional licence to do such work. Mr H. J. Macalister, who prosecuted, said that the defendant was employed by Mr J. D. Campbell, and he had sold a radio set to Mr William McMullan of Oteramika. He did certain wiring work and connected it up to the power system without permission. He had been warned on previous occasions about doing this kind of work. Theie had been a-number of similar prosecutions in Invercargill in the last few years ■ and the Electric Power Supply considered that reasonable warning had been given to the trade. It was felt that such cases called for a fairly heavy penalty. “I do not think it will be denied that Murdoch knew of his obligations,” Mr Macalister added. Mr Watson said that the regulations were extraordinarily wide and he submitted that the work was not dangerous. . “Have you ever tried it, Mr Watson, asked the Magistrate. Mr Watson: No, sir. ’ The Magistrate: Well, you need a shock. Counsel said that he meant that the work was done safely as far as the risk of fire was concerned. He submitted that the case was one for a nominal penalty. Mr Macalister said that the maximum penalty was £5O. The Magistrate remarked that warnings had been given over a long period of years. “I think most of us have tampered with electrical fittings,” he added, “and I suppose it helps to sell the radio sets. There is no doubt, however, that it is dangerous.” On the first charge defendant was convicted and fined £2, costs 10/- and solicitor’s fee £2 2/-, and on the second charge he was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/- and solicitor s fee 10/-. CHARGE DISMISSED The previous defendant’s employer, John Daniel Campbell, pleaded not guilty to breaches of the regulations in employing an unlicensed man to do wiring work. Defendant was represented by Mr Watson. . Colin Charles Kenward (electrical inspector in the employ of the Southland Electric Power Supply) said that he inspected the installation at Mr McMullan’s house last June. The work had been done to supply power to a radio receiver. Witness had previously spoken to Campbell about the practice of employing unregistered men to do wiring work. Campbell was surprised to know that Murdoch was not qualified to do the work and said that he would see it would not occur again. That was, about two years ago. Mr Watson said that not only did defendant not know that Murdoch was carrying on this work, but he had issued an express prohibition against his doing that type of work. Evidence was given by defendant, who said that he was not aware that Murdoch was carrying out such work, and further, he had frequently given instructions that his men should not do it. He engaged qualified men for wiring. In this particular case nothing was charged for the installation. He knew nothing about this particular work until Mr Kenward came to see him.

To Mr Macalister: When he said he had qualified men to do the work he meant that he employed men who were not, however, on his staff. He had five radio salesmen and it was difficult to watch all their activities. To Mr Watson: Not every sale of radio implied that an installation was necessary. There was often a previous installation.

The Magistrate said that it was quite likely that the position was as defendant had said. The charges would be dismissed.