PLUMBERS WORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 172, 22 June 1926, Page 11

PLUMBERS WORK

PROTEST TO COUNCIL. ALLEGED BREACHES OF AWARD. A protest to the Borough Council in respect to alleged breaches of the plumbers’ and gasfitters’ award was made at last night’s council meeting by a union deputation comprising the president of the local branch (Mr J. Hyland) and Mr J. Dalton. The former alleged that the by-laws of tho council in reference to plumbing work had not been observed, as borough employees and others not licensed had been doing plumbing work, although the council had promised that this would be checked. It was asked that borough employees be prevented from doing such work unless they were plumbers, whether such work was for the council or private people, because some borough employees were, he alleged, doing plumbing work privately. He read tho conditions governing such matters under the Act, stating that certain borough positions which should have been filled by plumbers had been given to others. Inter alia ho said that the electricians should not be allowed to interfere with hot and cold water fittings. To Cr Fitzherbert, Mr Hyland said that the council water-fitters should not be allowed to do repair work. Cr Edwards asked the names of borough employees who did plumbing work for private people. Mr Hyland cited the case of one man who had allegedly done a job for the borough engineer on a Saturday afternoon, and named another instance of an employee who had done privato work. The engineer denied the allegation regarding work having been done for him

It was desirable, said tho Mayor, to have tho electrical engineer present when the matter was discussed at the next meeting, of the public works committee.

Cr McLeavey said that the matter merited full and thorough investigation.

Largely, said Cr Edwards, what had been alleged was merely a report. Definite data were needed. It was decided to refer the matter to the public works committee to report to the council at its next meeting.