Registration scheme urged for builders

Press, 4 May 1981, Page 10

Registration scheme urged for builders

Canterbury Master Builders’ Association members were urged at their annual meeting to support a registration scheme run by builders before the Government introduced one of its own.

Mr Andy Currin, of the Wellington Master Builders’ Association, told the meeting that he knew from discussions with people in the Building Performance Guarantee Corporation that it was possible the Government might bring in legislation requiring the registration of builders within a year or so.

The indemnity scheme, run by the corporation, to protect clients against bad workmanship and houses being left unfinished, was available only to those haying homes built. There was no insurance available from the corporation against bad workmanship in renovations, which could cost as much as $30,000. _ Consequently, the corporation was having to pay out more money than was neces-sary-if builders were initially vetted for competency and financial standing, Mr Currin said.

A sub-committee of the Master Builders’ Federation set out a scheme proposal late last year, and this was sent to the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). His attitude towards it seemed favourable, and he had passed copies of the text to various councils connected with the building industry. The scheme outlined was

geared to ensure compentency by builders. At the moment.* more than. 50 per cent of builders in New Zealand did not belong to master builder associations and therefore were not subject to the disciplining and clientbuilder arbitration carried out by the associations when necessary.

In addition, the collection of all builders inside the scheme would ensure the voices of individual members would be heard.

The registration scheme proposed is modelled on that of Western Australia, where according to Mr Currin, between 1963 and 1979, only 26 people had lost their registration, 23 had been suspended for three months and 33 had been cautioned.

All people involved in building would be registered initially, but after that, to build anything costing more than $3OOO and needing a permit, people would need an apprenticeship in carpentry or carpentry and joinery, a building cadetship, or would need to be aged 25 and have five years practical experience *as a journeyman immediately preceding application.

There would be two grades — one to cover housing and light commercial work up to $60,000 a contract, and one for work above this limit, Mr Currin said.

People who built their own homes would be supervised to ensure good workmanship, and pay the costs of this supervision, and would be

prevented from building themselves another home for two years.

A national board would be simply run and not-tie up the country with red tape. The scheme in Western Australia employed only about six people. A member of the audience pointed out that the Western Australian scheme applied only to metropolitan Perth and a few other centres, Mr Currin answered that he was confident the whole of New Zealand could be covered by three or four inspectors. Mr Tony Merritt said that he objected to the scheme because it would worsen the bureaucratic state that New Zealand had got itself into and would become a closed shop, which would be difficult to get into. To get the building industry up to standard, everyone should be taught the basics of costing. Some people tendered too low, then had to give inferior workmanship to stay within their tender, he said.

At the meeting, Mr Brian ; Phillips stepped down as ' president of the Canterbury 4 Association after a term, of -J two years. Mr Mike Prende- 1 :, ville.* the vice-president, took his place. , . Mr Prendeville administers the St Winifred's geriatric hospital in Ham Road, Christchurch, as well as St Joan's Hospital, Auckland. He is- president of the Private Hospitals’ Associations Canterburv branch.

Mr Pat O'Regan, who has been in the building industry since 1950 and is now a ; , building consultant in Christ- 1 -' church, was made ; a ■ life-% member of the Canterbury Master Builders’ Association. He was associated with the building of the Russley Hotei,'? Jcllie Park swimming pool, U.E.B. factories and many;. other constructions, around Christchurch.