PLUMBING WORK

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 61, 15 March 1924, Page 13

PLUMBING WORK

Sir, —Your correspondent, " One Who Knows," asks: Why are handy men allowed to do sanitary plumbing? Well, they are not allowed; those doing so break the law in relation to sanitary plumbing, but, like other laws, the Registration Act is not always adhered to. The suggestion embodied in your correspondent's sentence, in which he says

"if the City Council thinks the Act cannot be carried out, then do away with registration, and the Plumbers' Board," is not warranted. It would not tend to rectify the grievance your writer has.

I submit, Sir, that the Plumbers Registration Act ensures that the great bulk of plumbing work is done in such a manner as to protect the health of the community, and in accordance with local bylaws. The most of plumbing has been advanced as one reason why a qualified man is not always employed, and it must be admitted that an amateur could do work with apparently the same results as a registered plumber for approximately 50 per cent, less, to which must be added the possibility of ill-health and unnecessary maintenance costs. It may be. that excessive charges are sometimes made, and in this connection I would suggest that a scale of charges be drawn up and mutually arranged between the Master Plumbers' Association and some disinterested party with a thorough knowledge of the trade.—l am. etc., W. S. THOMPSON. 14th March.