Plumbing Charges

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32350, 16 July 1970, Page 12

Plumbing Charges

Sir, —1 have in front of me an account from a plumber. One man worked three hours, including 10 minutes off for morning tea, which I supplied, and the charge for labour alone comes to $17 — roughly $5.60 an hour, $224 a 40-hour week; and allowing four weeks off for holidays, sickness, etc., represents an annual income of $10,700. As materials were charged separately the plumber cannot claim that there were hidden costs. The fact that I was charged 93 cents for the privilege of providing the plumber with his morning tea (as the 10 minutes was not taken off the time worked) will result in all tradesmen providing their own in future or going without. $10,700 represents a pretty good income in any language, one that many businessmen, teachers, shopkeepers, bus drivers, and pensioners would give their right arms to have. The only answer to this flagrant extortion is: do it yourself.—Yours, etc., FLUSHED. July 6, 1970. [The secretary of the North Canterbury Master Plumbers’ Association (Mr G. S. Gardner) replies: “We regret that, on the information given, it is not possible to pass fair comment. The Department of Industries and Commerce would investigate this complaint for ‘Flushed’ and assist him in obtaining the full particulars of hours, travelling to and from workshop, and any shop work done, and if the charge-out rate of the plumber can be substantiated.’’]