Electricians Meet in Conference

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 65, 20 March 1944, Page 4

Electricians Meet in Conference

“With the formation of brandies in all the main centres and an ever-growing membership, we are getting to the position when we can say that wo represent the electrical trade as a whole, for among our members will be found registered engineers, supply authority engineers, electrical manufacturers, contractors and electricians, all bound together for the common good,” said the president (Mr. Martin S. Smith, of Wanganui), when presenting to the annual conference of tlie New Zealand Institute of Electricians in Palmerston North on Saturday, a review of the past 12 months. New branches had been formed at Christchurch, Auckland .and Nelson. The president touched on “the appalling situation” that had been allowed to develop in connection with the power supply and added that the institute would be failing in its duty if they did not give the fullest support to the endeavours of the power boards and supply authorities in demanding that the matter should receive the immediate attention of the Government. At the conclusion of hostilities entirely new ideas and apparatus will be made available and New Zealand will once again lag behind the rest of tho world for want of adequate power. Mr. W. H. Potter (Auckland) presented a report on the apprenticeship problem and urged serious consideration by district councils along with the appointment of apprenticeship committees at each of the large centres. Mr. A. Curlew (Wellington) declared that the poor apprenticeship position to-day was largely the result of the employer falling down in his duties to the lads under him. How often did they find apprentices teaching apprentices? That sort of tiling had to stop. As an examiner he could speak of the amazingly bad examples of work turned in by apprentices at examination time. Wellington brought down a remit requiring- an applicant for registration seiving a full five years of apprenticeship (lie serves three now) before being registered. It was contended by those supporting the idea that five years was little enough time for a boy to learn all there was to know about his job. On tlie other hand, it was pointed out that a boy should be In a position to know whether he was going to be registered before his apprenticeship was up. Consequently tlie Otago delegate moved an amendment allowing registration after the fourth year, but the idea was not acceptable. Nor was the remit, the voting being 12—15. A remit from Wellington urging that no apprentice be allowed to sit for the wiremen’s registration examination until he lias had three years' satisfactory technical training in electrical subjects, met with a mixed reception. Those against said it would handicap the brighter boys tv ho were needed in the industry. Further, the country districts had not the same learning facilities as the cities. The need for a correspondence course was mentioned. Those for the remit pointed out that something constructive must lie done or members must cease talking about (he low percentage of passes at the examinations. The remit was lost by a substantial majority. It was decided to approach the Director of Technical Education seeking representation on the appropriate technical education advisory committee; and that a universal prospectus for schools be compiled and an established textbook be recommended and universally adopted for students preparing for the wiremen’s examination. Technical schools are to be asked to publish the percentage of passes of their own pupils in the wiremen’s examinations. These, it was stated, would be found to be higher than the i general average. A suggestion that the examinations should be held in May and November to coincide with the school terms, instead of in March and September, was approved. The conference dealt with numerous administrative matters and made decisions as follows:—Representation is to be sought on the Electrical Regulations Advisory Committee and Electrical Wiremen’s Registration Board. A Napier remit considered the amendments to the regulations governing “definition of electrical wiring work” were retrogressive and open to abuse. The amendments gave supply authority engineers power to allow unlicensed workers to do certain work and this was objected to. It was decided to ask the council of the institute to take some action in the matter. Tn view of the rehabilitation proposals adversely affecting the industry, the Hawke’s Bay branch urged immediate attention to the necessity for the classification of future and existing registrations. The conference agreed. There were 12 nominations fop seven seats on the council and the following were elected:—Messrs. F. F. Gilmore (Wellington), C. H. McKelch (Otago), L. G. F. Mahoney (Mangaweka), R. H. Nairn (Palmerston North), W. H. Potter (Auckland), F. T. Salveson (Canterbury) and Marlin S. Smith (Wanganui). At a meeting of the council Mr. Mahoney was elected president and Mr. Gilmore vice-president. The 1945 conference will be held at Palmerston North. Mr. Smith, retiring president, was honoured with life membership.