PLUMBING EXAMINATIONS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 6

PLUMBING EXAMINATIONS

RECENT COLLAPSE OF CANDIDATES. , A REPORT, AND A 1 DISCUSSION. ' Some time ago it was reported that out of thirty candidates who, sat for examination in the theory and practice of plumbing, seventeen only'had passed in theory,-while a bare seven had-satisfied tho requirements ofs the examiners in tho practical \side of the craft. The results were considered so unsatisfactory by the Wellington Technical School Board that the Plumbers' Board of . Control 'was'.'requested to furnish a. report on the examinations..'• This report was read at' the , monthly of. the Technical School. Board last, evening, and occasioned some discussion. The report is as follows:— : . ; -Reasons and Suggestions. . Plumbers' Board of Control is of opinion that, it is, necessary to maintain.,ia satisfactory; standard, in the certificate. examinations... The recent examinations, while of a'sofficient, standard,, were by. no.means too hard.; -In,.theory, a fair proportion of the candidates.' were successful; in prac-r tice.it h essential to exact 1 evidence of a reasonable ;acquaintance with.' the trade. The'examination was exceptional as regards failures in.' the practical examination; such exceptions .are :tb:,,be> expected .occasionally. i Many '.of ;the' 'failures, were dne.. to want of I'carem measurements, or. in following the instructions,given., . '.'■ .' .'. " _■ In regard to the training of apprentices, it.was shown that apprentices were forced, to get their. training in lead work almost entirely at'- the school,'- less than one-third of the \present' students' in tho practical class having touched lead work in their ordinary daily, -:iabour. , While' the students could ...learn the principles -of lead working at the school, the time put in, actually or rxissibly, ,by ; 'any. student, was barely sufficient .to give., him the dexterity -required for passing a tradesman's examination. The failure of; apprentices to get sufficient practiceduring th'e day, waslargely.dueto the fact that,less-lead work is now done in the trade than was, formerly the case. It was agreed that the masters be circularised-with a-.view :to -thqir ;inducihg apprentices to attend ;the/> classes regularly—their present attendance, being , unsatisfactory except in the case.. ; of 'those , - .whose obtained qriarteriy : reports'-,of their work:and' attend-ance-.from,;-the instructor and took special pains .to persuade, their apprentices .to attend.'.',: ""-.■:'. ; ", ; . .' ■ " :■,.■: . ' ■'■':• * ■ ■ ; . Mpre, Regular Attendance Wanted. ';TKe .chainnan, said..that the board could only express ite disappointment'.with the work of. the' plumbing'classes, .as revealed by,' the report; •; It .'was. quite evident that closer ai> 'tenti<in ( to-regular, attendance .at. the. technical classes "was required. He' hoped'that the'resultslof'thenext.ycar would be better.' He; would' point out that plumbing was not strictly confined/.io load piping, asformerly; a ■ considerable quantity 'of iron-piping work was now done, suggesting; the necessity for more practical acquaintance, with' this branch of : the craft.-.■',■" :.-;' v ' . ' :■■; : .. ■. ■ .':- l Mr.: Bellinger" thought .that in some cases the'candidates were.too young; they appeared. to l>e : anxious to get on too :quickly. Speaking of, his own firm, he said that very; little lead work 'was','done' by. his 'boys; 'Most of that Trork was-done by:contract nowadays. ;.;' :y\ Employers To Bβ circularised. '■ 'Mr. Allan suggested that the matter should be brpuahtSunder :the notice r of the City.Councilj'whicn had to.do with the licensing of the plumbers. Ho thought that the council should convey to the-employers the necessity for the regulaT. attendance, of ! the: apprentices ; at the technical schools;,' Copies, of the report should be sent to the employers and to the City Engineer, who could, officially," bring the matter before the council. - • . .. Mr. M'Laren suggested that the Plumbers' .Union of-Workers.might also be apprised'of the .situation. Mr. Allan then-imoved,- and Mr.' M'Laren seconded, thdt copies 6! vthe. report be f brwarded to all the master plumbers, i the City Engineer, and the Plumbers', ttoioa of Workers. , The motion was carried.:' On the /motion'of Mr. T. Ballinger, ii was': that quarterly reports of the attendance: of students at the various trade,classes of the teohnical school be , forwarded to" the board;,. ■;■ • : -.--' "','-'■ .' , ;''■"' v \■'