Shoddy Electrical Material

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

Shoddy Electrical Material

The annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Electricians held in Palmerston North on Saturday, approved the setting up of an Approvals Board to deal with shoddy electrical equipment said to be on the market at the present time. It was also said to be an endeavour to safeguard the trade and public from possible dumping of material of questionable quality. A report was also presented on the matter of defective materials on the market, by a special sub-committee set up to make inquiries. The recommendations of the committee were that an investigation should be made with a view of preventing the hazards which were taking place; and that the Institute, with the Supply Authorities’ Engineers’ Engineers’ Association, set up a joint committee to make recommendations as to possible solutions of the problems. The report also recommended the collecting of evidence not only on the questionable articles themselves but also on accidents and damage that had resulted. The report said there was a definite need for action and the present control of overseas imports had an important effect on the position. The quality of certain New Zealand-made electrical accessories could be improved. Mr. F. F. Gilmore (Wellington) said tlie trade had promised moral support in the matter of poor quality goods but something more than that was needed. It was immoral to sell some of the “junk” on tho market to-day, he said. Mr. Gilmore also complained about the promiscuous sale by chain stores of such equipment as household iron “elements” along with instructions as to how to lit them, lie had seen some of the attempts by amateurs to fit these elements and did not wonder that people harl suffered “.shocks” when they used the irons. The sale of such components should be prohibited.