ELECTRICAL WIREMEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1926, Page 4

ELECTRICAL WIREMEN.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW

WELLINGTON, Aprial 36. For the purpose of establishing a standard of workmanship and for the protection of the public against accident and fire risks, the Electrical AA'irenien’s Registration Act of last session made it illegal for any electrical ivircman.to work at wiring after April 1, 1925, unless such wireinmi is registered. The Act also prescribed a period of uino months from April 1, 1925, within which period (but not afterwards,) a ivireman might apply for registration without having passed the prescribed examination. This period of nine months was intended to provide a strictly temporary opportunity for the registration of wiremen who can prove their qualification outside of the examination test, but it in no way, alters the general requirements of the Act that no one, unless registered, can work as an electrical wireinan after April 1 last. It is, however, stated that a great many wiremen wero possibly confused over the nine months provision, and are working, although unregistered, and they are no doubt unknowingly breaking the law. On inquiring at ‘the hydro-electric branch of the Public AVorks Department. a reporter was informed by Hie registrar of the AViremeu’s Registration Board, set up under last session’s Act that the board wishes to draw the attention of electrical wiremen to the necessity for registering, and the fact that the nine months is only an open door period for qualifying otherwise than by examination. The electrical supply authorities consider that at tiresent. there are about 2099 electrical wiremen actually at work in New Zealand, but the board lias received only 1100 applications. Besides thoso actually working to-day there are other persons who having acted at one time as wiremen, or being occasionally engaged at wiring in a semi-professional way, will probably desire in the future to work as wiremen. ‘These people—there are perhaps 1000 of them, making approximately 3000 in all—will break the law if they work as wiremen without being registered, and if they wish, to escape the examination list the time to apply is now. Although the forms of application are made as simple as possible, only about 50 per cent of the applications received have been in order, and .some applications contain misstatements of fact. The Act prescribes a £SO line for a false statement. Of the 1100 applications so far ioceived the majority have come from the North Island, and there is ail apparent lack of initiative in Canterbury, Otago and 'Southland. Every application must bo accompanied by a fee of ss, but in about 25 per. rent of applications this necessary adjunct has been omitted.