ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.

Shannon News, 24 April 1925, Page 3

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.

DAMAGE CAUSED IN WIRING. CONTRACTORS LIABLE. The fact that fairly wide dissatisfaction was felt throughout the district at the carelessness of certain electrical installation contractors, in wiring houses, was ventilated at yesterday's meeting of the Horowihenua Power Board, as the res.ult of a letter of complaint from Mr E. A. Pullman, Te Horo. Mr Pullman complained ol delay in the wiring of his house, stating that the contractor had started work in January and had not yet completed the work. He complained further that certain damage had been done to his house in the course hf the work, and that he looked-to the Board to have this righted. Mr Barber said that he had noticed in certain places that holes had been bored in ceilings and left open, the lights being put in some other place. Perhaps this had some bearing on the subject Qf the letter.

The secretary stated that he Had consulted the contractors, who said that some of the work could not be proceeded with as building had not been completed. If any damage was done, that was the liability of the contractor.

Mr Gunning said that in cases \ where damage was noticed by the Installation Inspector, fthe passing of the work should be withheld until the damage was repaired. Mr Kilsby said that there were a great many complaints, about roofing iron being taken off and badly put on again, this causing leaks. .Air Seifert corroborated this. Tile Engineer said that in many instances where holes were bored H was found that for some reason it was not possible to do the waring in these places, or perhaps alterations might be made. The chairman, stated that where a complaint was made, the inspector \ had power to. hold up work until the difficulty was removed. If people did not, make complaints the Board could not do anything. Mr Ross asked if it would not be possible to instinct the Inspector to inquire, when. he went to pass work, df there were any complaints. Mr Ross said that a lot of feeling was current in the district that the - Power Board felt that it could do as they liked. Anything which could be done to disabuse people of this idea would be of value. Mr Matheson supported this. He had himself known of cases where damage was done, and not rectified. The Board was out to give service, and did not want anv dissatisfaction. Mr Mackay said that the notice of consumers should be drawn to the fact that any damage done should - be put in order by the contractor, and that- any complaints they had should be made to the Inspector, whose business it would be to attend to the', matter. This was agreed to. In Mr Pullman’s case, the action ol • the secretary in referring the complaint to the contractor, -was confirmed.