D.—l.

that the electrical Supply Authorities be given power to obtain information relating to the status of assistants to wiremen in an endeavour to ensure that persons are qualified to obtain registration after passing the examination. The circular has proved very useful, and several inquiries have been received for further information. There were, however, still a few applications for registration by persons who had not served as apprentices. Portable appliances, such as radiators, toasters, irons, vacuum cleaners, and standard lamps, and appliances such as washing-machines and refrigerators, are still being assembled and repaired in a manner which is contrary to the provisions of the Act. The Act provides that this work must be done by a qualified person when carried out on.the premises where the appliance is to be used, and that in all other cases, if the work is not done by an authorized person, it must be inspected and tested by an authorized person before the appliance, or any part, is removed from the premises where the work was done. In the latter case details of the work done must be entered up in a register by the person carrying out the inspection unless this person is the one undertaking the worker is a full-time employee of that person. Considerable trouble has been experienced in connection with the installation of washing-machines, and six prosecutions were taken during the year ended 31st March ; two have been taken since the above date, and others are pending. A conference was held during the year with the managers and salesmen of one company, and the requirements of the Act and the regulations were explained to them. The position regarding petrol-pumps is more satisfactory, and very few reports of this work being done by unskilled persons were received. Action was taken during the year against a plumber who had disconnected a petrol-pump. The danger which may result from the disconnection of an earthing-lead by a plumber, builder, painter, &c., was referred for discussion during the year, and steps are being taken to bring the matter under the notice of the persons concerned with the object of putting a stop to unqualified persons carrying out this work. The use of obsolete forms for making application for registration and provisional licenses and for making reports of defective work and breaches of the Act still continue to cause unnecessary delay. The last new report forms for defective work and breaches of the Act were sent out to electrical Supply Authorities in September, 1935. A new form for the notification of Inspectors was sent out in July, 1937, and a new application form for wiremen was sent out in June, 1938. The statistics for the year ended 31st March are as set out below ; the figures in parenthesis are for the previous year : — Registrations—■ Inspectors .. .. .. .. .. .. 60 (59) Wiremen—• Full registration .. .. .. .. . . 120 (65) Limited registration .. .. .. .. 64 (101) Provisional licenses .. .. .. .. .. 20 (17) Examinations— Candidates— Written part .. .. .. .. .. .. 379 (332) Practical part .. .. .. .. .. .. 323 (226) Passed—• Written part .. .. .. .. .. .. 151 (97) Practical part .. .. .. .. .. .. 180 (90) Highest marks—Written part .. .. .. .. .. 89 (86) Practical part .. .. .. .. .. 91 (90) Defective work reports .. .. .. .. .. 99 (29) Endorsements made .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 (4) Endorsements removed .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 (4) Breach of Act reports .. .. .. .. .. .. 125 (116) Prosecutions authorized i. .. .. .. .. 66 (63) F. T. M. Kissel, B.SC., M.1.E.E., A.M.1.C.E., Chief Electrical Engineer.

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