ELECTRICAL TRADES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 28 November 1930, Page 18

ELECTRICAL TRADES.

~.'j res EDrroa oj the pkees Sirv—l should like, if I may, to eomc;e:it upon the subject of the address delivered to the Christcburch Electrical i'-i'lcrs' and Contractors' Association by Dr. I>. E. Hansen. Dr. Hansen apj etrre to be one of those estimable gentlemen who insist that the electrical trade is still in its infancy, and that there are Astounding possibilities ahead. There may be, but I should like to ask Dr. Hansen wkere those "opportunities for an electrician with a fuller knowledge of electrical work than ordinary honj-e wiring" arc. To my mind, there are about three broad alternatives in this country, namely, house vririag, main or sub-station attendant, and canvassing the sale of imported electrical apparatus. A few years ago I was one of those keen, ambitious students in my fifth year, and took my Group Course certijieate in electrical engineering at an Eajllsh technical school, and I might mention that the cost of the whole coarse was borne my myself out of pocket-money while I was still an apprentice. However, since leaving England four years ago I have tried hard, bat failed, to get any job but house wiring, with one exception. I was employed by a large .concern in Australia as_ an electrical fitter, and although the highest satisfaction was expressed ■with my work and conduct, it would appear that a marriage certificate would have been infinitely more useful to me in retaining my job. Although I have had no use for my technical training, I iflll kept on doing a little Stiidying, and having regard to tho practical know, liige acquired while serving my apprenticeship in an electrical engineering workshop, I decided to start manufacturing in New Zealand electrical accessories for use , in modern radio sets. But it seemi that the Government are Jo set on encouraging secondary ia<iue tries that a permit, to allow me to ruik my limited capital in such a ventare would cost me mora than the capi- ' *! J available, and this state of affair* precluded any possibility -of findmg,a. market. *• regards the wireman's work, dexterous use of tools and know r , I* electrical laws, etc., required aßy average intelligent Mielbtf, b»t it needs, a pelmatnist not ani electrical student, to underJ? interpret the ridiculous of Rules ana Regulations. t . hat average wireman Htm iSMi iiuk attetU M a year, if

( he is lucky, for very little more pay ! than a labourer, it's a safe bet that all I the wiremon I know would sooner sweep ! the streets for twelve mouths ia a year. Very well, you say there are openings for better men; but wheref Where 1 X trust you will publish this letter in your paper, as, with all due respect to the opinions of others, I cannot see that the electrical trade will be anything more than a blind alley occupation for tho young men in this country for some considerable time. —Yours, etc., P. T. HALNSWORTH. Noveinbor 27th, 1930. I