INSPECTOR OF MACHINERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 214, 3 November 1900, Page 2

INSPECTOR OF MACHINERY.

Amokqst the moat important c! th measures passed during last sessioß, wa aa Act dealing with the inspection o machinery, Tho chief objeot aimed a' in the Ipspeetion of Maohinery Ac Amendment Act is that those who ari entrusted with steam engines, an< more particularly stationary engines shall be required to have a more iuti mate acquaintance with the forces the; control than has hitherto been necessary. The result, says.the,Wellingtei Post, would be, as Mr. J. Hutchesoi pointed out, to reward merit and en courage a higher class of men, and t< secure for the general pnblio a highe degree of safety than exists at thi present time. The administration o the Inspector of Machinery Act is ti be placed in the hands of the Ministe for Marine. The definition «of mac binary is extended bo far aa ti include machinery worked by elec bricity, gas, gaseous products jorapressed air, "or any othe source from which motive power may bi obtained," and no one under eighteei years of age is to have charge of mac linery propelled otherwise than b; land. This 'Act also repeals section 41 )f the Act of 1882, which provided tha i metal plate must be affixed to maehin sry stating that it was certified unde: ;he Act. After Ist January, 1901 >very driver in charge of any stean itationary engine and boiler, or of an; iteam boiler with no machinery at ached, whether such engine or boile: s on land or on a vessel, must hold ai mgine-driver's certificate from thi Board of Examiners, but this does no ipply to any engine the area of cylinder ir combined area of cylinders of whicl loes not exeeed 144 circular inches, oi i boiler Of 15 h.p. or under, or to an] ingine or boiler forming part of th( iropelling machinery of any vessel L'he certificates may be by examinatioi >r by service. Tho certificates are to bi if two grades, and will be called first md second class engine-drivers' certifi ates, and the holder of a first-class en ;ine-driver's certificate who has workec is an apprentice for at least five yean n a workshop where engines are mauuactured or repaired, er where work ol i similar character is performed, will >3 entitled after examination to receive in extra first-class certificate, and the lolder of such a certificate will be sailed an engineer. Tho extra firstilass or first-class certificate will entitle ;ho holder to drive and have charge ol my steam stationary engine *nd its toilers; and the holder of a second-claw lartificate may drive and have charge >f any steam stationary engine the area >f cylinder of which does not exceed !00 circular inches and its boilers. A jerson holding a certificate of any class uay have charge of any steam boiler to vhich no certificate is attached. Service certificates may be granted by the Board of Examiners, without examination, to any person of good'repute who, iot later than Ist January, 1902, ap)lies for it and produces a testimonial ror» his former employer or employers >f bis having beon actually engaged md in charge of an engine er boiler for i period of twelve months prior to this coming into operation. That put if section- 5 of the Act of 1894 which teals with service certificates is relesled, An Inspector of Machinery nay exam'm any applicant for a eaond-clasa certificate ora'ly as to lis qualifications for a certificate, md the Board, on the report of ho Inspector, may accept the oral ixamjnacion in lieu of a written elimination. The holder of a first-class mgineer's certificate issuod under the shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877, is to >e deemed to bo the holder of an extra irut-class certificate under this Act. L'be holder of a second-class engineer's lortificate issued under the Shipping nidi Seamen's Act is to be deemed to >0 the holder of a first-class ceitifioate inder this Act, and the holder ef a hird-class cugineer's certificate issued inder the Shipping and Seamen's Act-, ir of a traction or winding engiae[rivets' cortificate isauad under the inspection of Machinery Act, 1894, s deemed to be the holder of a secondlass certificate und;r this Act. If the wldar of a certificate under the Act of .894 or this Act is guilty of any offence ir misconduct which would render him infit to bo entrusted to perform his luties eilioiomly, ho may bo disqualiiad, on the report of the B:jard, for iueh period as the Minister thinks fit, Anyone who, after Ist Januaiy, 1901, .cts without a cortificate as driver of an nguie or in charge of a boiler, he, and he person employing ' him, will be table to a penalty of £5 a day. Tho lolder of a winding engine-driver's ertifioate is entitled to drivo and have harge of a traction engine.