PLUMBERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1105, 19 April 1911, Page 4

PLUMBERS' CONFERENCE.

REGISTRATION BILL. The Plumbers' t'nion Conference resum. cd yesterday in tho Y.M.C.A. rooms, Mr. 'P.' M'Laughlin presiding. A draft copy of the projected Plumbers' Registration. Bill, as amended by the conference, was read and approved. T'his measure is designed to remedy tho lack of uniformity in granting plumbers' licenses wnich now exists throughout tlia Dominion. At present a license granted in ono centre does .not entitle plumber to do sanitary work in another ■ town. For instance a plumber licensed in Dunedin, must pass another examination and obtain anotner license if he removes to Christchurch. A plumber licensed in. Christchurch is not oven entitled to pursue his calling in an adjacent small borough unless he has paid a fee and taken out a separate license from the local authority. The small authorities do not conduct examinations. They merely collect fees from, and issue licenses to, plumbers whoso qualifications have been proved by examination in the largo towns. The projected Bill, which will oo introduced in tho House whin Parliament meets this year, provides for the appointment by the Government of a registrar, who shall regulate tbo issue to plumbers of a license, available in any part of tho Dominion. It is proposed that an examining board shall be sot up in each centre, consisting of ono representative of tho operative plumbers, one representative of the employers' associations, ono representative of tho.district local authorities controlling sanitary works, and a representative appointed by the Government. Under the Bill the present representation of Technical School Boards unon the boards of examiners would be nbofished. Another clause in tho draft Bill provides that tho possession of a satisfactory license issued in the Old Country shall entitle a plum-, ber to be licensed in New Zealand. At| present Auckland is tho only New Zealand centre in which these foreign qualifications are recognised. The Bill also provides for the recognition of licenses jssuod under the system that now obtains in New Zealand by the various local authorities. The conference spent the greater part of the day in considering the details of a proposed Dominion award, providing for uniform wages nnd working conditions throughout Now Zealand. The conference will resume to-day, ond probably will conclude its business in tho forenoon. Afterwards tho visiting dolegates will be entertained by the Wellington Union. It is proposed to co for a drive in the afternoon," and in the evening tho local nnd visiting delegates will foregather at a smoke concert.