H.—34A

Electrical Engineering Divisional Committee (Six Meetings). The circulation to affected interests of thirty-two British and two Australian draft standard specifications and fifty British and eighteen Australian standard specifications, and their careful examination by this committee on the basis of the comment received, has resulted in the adoption of the following sixteen New Zealand standard specifications : — 148 ' 635-1935 Thermal-type Time-element Relays (Alternating Current or Direct Current) for Railway Signalling. 149 581-1934 Electrically-driven Point-operating Machines for Railways. 150 561-1934 Alternating-current Line Relays (Two-clement, Three-position) for Railway Signalling Purposes. 151 557-1934 Alternating-current Line 'Relays (Single-element, Two-position) for Railway Signalling Purposes. 152 520-1933 Alternating-current Track Relays (Two-element, Two-position). 153 519-1933 Medium Hard Copper Strip, Bars, and Rods, for Electrical Purposes. 154 475-1932 Tractive Armature Direct-current Neutral Line Relays. 155 452-1932 Tractive Armature Direct-current Neutral Track Relays. 156 442-1932 Terminals for Electrical Apparatus for Railway Signalling Purposes. 157 601-1935 Steel Sheets for Transformers for Power and Lighting. 158 161-1937 Tungsten Filament General Service Electric Lamps. 159 731-1937 Flexible Steel Conduit for Cable Protection and Flexible Steel Tubing to enclose Flexible Drives. 160 88-1937 Electric Fuses up to 800 amperes and 250 volts to Earth. The following standard specifications, which have been re-issued by the British Standards Institution in revised form, have been readopted after due consideration :— N.Z.S.S. B.S.S. 53 81-1936 Instrument Transformers. 75 168-1936 Electrical Performance of Industrial Electric Motors and Generators with Class A Insulation. 78 171-1936 Electrical Performance of Transformers for Power and Lighting. Eleven draft standard specifications have been recommended for adoption as New Zealand standard specifications. The work of the Plugs and Sockets Sub-committee has finalized in the preparation of draft proposals for a specification for flat-pin plugs and sockets. After careful consideration these proposals have been endorsed by the Divisional Committee and are now to be circulated to affected interests. The specification has been prepared with the object of making plugs and sockets for like purpose interchangeable. . . The convenience to users and servicing organizations, in addition to the saving in overhead charges that will result from a reduction of the diversification of types of this equipment, constitutes a general advantage so obvious as not to require emphasis. The general aim has been to secure this gain to all concerned with the least possible disturbance to existing practice. The use of the equipment according to the specification when future electrical installations are being undertaken will progressively establish a more satisfactory position in regard to the interchangeability of electric plugs and sockets, with a corresponding benefit, expressed in convenience and economy, to all concerned. , Some improvement upon the present position in this respect is very desirable. Under present conditions such variations in sockets are found in one house as to require three different types of plugs. There is no real reason why the connections on domestic electric equipment should not be so standardized as to permit the use of one connecting-cord for any type of domestic electrical appliance. The ever-increasing use of electricity calls for a corresponding application of standards. The precise definition of the margin of safety of insulation, the clearances maintained between various terminals and many other instances too numerous to mention, but indicate the importance of standardization in this field in order to protect the public from the manifold hazards associated with the use of inferior apparatus or equipment, or its faulty installation. That this is recognized overseas is evidenced by the fact that, with few exceptions, all the leading countries of the world have instituted a system of certification of electrical equipment based upon standards of efficiency and safety. This certification aspect of standardization is one which could be used greatly to the benefit of this Dominion, and while it is specially important in the case of electrical equipment there is no reason why its general benefits should be confined to this sphere. Illumination Committee (Five Meetings). Illumination Sub-committee .. .. • • • • • ■ 3 meetings. This committee has examined three British and one Australian draft standard specifications, and seven British standard specifications, two of which have been endorsed as New Zealand standards :— N.Z.S.S. B.S.S. 144 52-1936 Bayonet Lamp-caps, Lampholders, and Lampholder Plugs, tor Voltages not exceeding 250 volts, Dimensions of. 145 324-1934 Translucent (Difiusing) Glassware Illumination Fittings for Interior Lighting.

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