ELECTRICAL TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1935, Page 17 (Supplement)

ELECTRICAL TRADE

WIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION. HAWERA FORMS FIRST SOCIETY. The formation of the Electricians Association (South Taranaki) was decided upon by a meeting of more than 40' South Taranaki electricians at Hawera on Thursday night. Mr. T. R. Overton presided and explained the object of the association. Many letters of support from women unable to attend were received. The interim secretary,. Mr. Martin Smith, reported that the provisional committee had met twice since the association was formed. The constitution had been draughted and would be submitted for adoption. Every licensed wireman in the district whose name appeared in the 1935 Gazette had been notified of the meeting and invited to attend. Several prominent men in the electrical profession had already agreed to give lectures at forthcoming meetings. The objects of the association, said Mr. Overton, were to advance the interests of licensed electrical wiremen in the South Taranaki district, with particular reference to wiremen's registration, the members’ lectures, social evenings and the development of electricity in all its branches. The decision to form an association was the outcome of several meetings with inspectors and others .interested in the electrical business, said Mr. Overton. Members would be able to meet regularly and discuss amendments to the regulations and make themselves fully conversant with new regulations. It was right and proper that registered wiremen should have a full knowledge of every law pertaining to the electrical profession. It would be the first association to be formed in the Dominion and other centres were looking to South Taranaki for an indication as to the success of such a movement. If attendance was any indication success was assured.

They knew from past experience that such an association was necessary in the interests of electricians. It would result in the deletion of those not up to recognised standards and generally improve the electrical business. The association would see that the right type of boy was admitted to the profession as apprentices. The immediate objects of the association were to bring forward discussions 1 itween the employees and their employers, inspectors and other authorities connected with the business. He urged that they should elect a strong committee and frame a constitution that would enable them to-launch a strong body. They did not want to be connected with such things as price fixing. The primary object of the association was the protection of licensed wiremen.

The election of officers resulted: (president), Mr. Martin Smith (Hawera); (vice-presidents), Messrs. D. Fraser (Opunake) and J. Cunningham (Patea); (secretary and treasurer), Mr. W. W. Davy (Hawera); (committee), Messrs. C. Percival (Hawera), T. Wallace (Waverley), T. C. Hobbs (Hawera), J. Gabbie (Hawera) and H. Voght (Stratford).