WARNNG TO PUBLIC

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20586, 27 November 1936, Page 7

WARNNG TO PUBLIC

WIRING OF ELECTRICAL GOODS In the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr C. R. OrrWalker, S.M., Baden Trevor Coburn, pleaded guilty to a change of performing electrical wiring without being in possession of an electrical wireman’s license. Mr W. D. Campbell, who appeared for the informant, said that the offence was committed more than 12 months ago. The defendant was a salesman employed by a firm in Christchurch. On October 30 he sold a washing machine to a householder in Waimate. He was not the holder of a wireman’s license, or a provisional license, and it was an offence for anyone to do electrical wiring unless he was licensed. The case was really brought to educate the public to the danger of machines such as washing machines being improperly installed, as the one in this instance was. The regulations required what was known as a three-pin plug, but in this case only a two-pin plug was used. With such a plug there was a possibility of a leakage, and it was possible that a person using the machine might be electrocuted. The manner in which defendant connected up the machine was very dangerous. Defendant said that he told the purchaser that the installation was purely temporary, and when the sale was covered by the agent in Timaru, a letter was sent to the purchaser pointing out that the installation was a temporary one, and it would be necessary to get an electrician to install a three-pin plug. Alexander J. Hawke, the purchaser of the machine, said that defendant connected up the machine, and told him that the connection was in accordance with the regulations. He received a letter, but he thought it was from a flrm of electricians in Timaru.

1 Defendant produced a copy of the letter sent to the purchaser, and witness said he thought it was someone looking for a Job. The Magistrate said that it did look as though the firm selling the machine had done the right thing. It would be an expensive luxury to take a licensed Wireman round when demonstrations were being made. Defendant said that the motor of the machine was suspended on rubber bands, and it was rarely that a leakage occurred. The Magistrate: I will have to increase your fine if you go on advertising like this. The Magistrate remarked that it was quite clear that an offence nad been committed. He did not suppose that it would continue. Defendant said that the company had taken every precaution. They certainly left a lot to the purchaser in that they expected the purchaser to Install proper points. The Magistrate: The average person does not know. Mr Campbell drew attention to the /act that the legislators had increased the fine from £25 to £5O. The Magistrate: Accidents have happened even when qualified electricians have overlooked things. A fine of £3 and costs was imposed.