UNDUE PUBLICITY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17762, 9 December 1929, Page 4

UNDUE PUBLICITY.

SAFETY OF RANGES. DEPARTMENT CONCERNED. ' . . The chief engineer, Public Worka Department, wrote to” the ThamesValley Power Board in reference to alarmist statements arising from an. accident in Wairarapa, whereby a child lost his life by grasping the uncovered ; bottom' element in-the ovem of an eleo tric range. . > i - Because accidents from the use of electricity were so rare, each'case provided a certain ambunt of news value, wrote the engineer, and the circumstances 'were, generally brought promi- / nentlv before the public. One was apt to lose the sense of proportion and assume that the use of electricity was naturally dangerous, whereas the - opposite was the case. The gift oi tan electric range to a local technical school and proper instruction of t.he children attending the cooking classes , would not only do' more to ensure safety, but would result in a more extended use of electric ranges. Motorcars were responsible for more" ucci\ dents in one day than electricity was in one year; yet one did not see regu- \ lations making it compulsory for motorcars to be fitted with some type of lifeguard like a tramear. , . ' . The engineer said that if desired, a. quantity of circulars setting out the correct method of using stoves and cautions to be observed would be supplied..* . - ' - • The hoard decided to secure sufficient copies to supply to all the con‘sumei's. ;