DUNEDIN DRAINAGE BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16399, 2 June 1915, Page 10

DUNEDIN DRAINAGE BOARD

The fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Drainage Board, held last night, was attended by Messrs J. S. Douglas (chairman), J. Small, J. Arkle, W. Belcher, W. Farquharson, E. Kellett, and J. M'Kinnon. Mr W. Burnett wrote resigning his position as a member of the board.—Mr Small referred to the valuable services Mr Burnett had rendered to the Board. Me was one ol' the oldest members, and had devoted a great deal of attention to its work. He was chairman of the board for a number of years, in which capacity ho had performed his duties to the satisfaction of everyone.—The resignation was received with regret, and it was agreed to forward a copy of the board's motion to Mr Burnett. The Chairman moved that Mr Robert Wilson be appointed a member of the board in Mr Burnett's place. Mr. Wilson was one of the four persons nominated in May, but withdrew bis name, thus saving an election.—The motion was carried.— Mr Wilson was appointed to fill the positions on t.he various committees vacated by Mr Burnett. The reports of the Works, Finance, and Executive Committees were adapted The following tenders were accepted : — Drain-in-ooinmon, Moreau and Driver streets, Maitland and Butters, £26 10s; plumbing and drainage work in Howard street, J. M. Wilson and Son, £20 6s 6d. A deputation representing the New Zealand Plumbers' Union of Workers waited on the board to protest against unregistered plumbers and apprentices being allowed to do work in direct avoidance of the principles of the Plumbers' Registration Act and also against the board's bylaws, and to urge upon the board the necessity of appointing more plumbing inspectors to enforce the observance of the by-laws under the Plumbers' Registration Act.—lt was contended by the deputation that the onus was on the board of seeing that unregistered plumbers and apprentices did not work. An amendment of one of the by-laws was also asked for to ensure notice being given of intention to' commence a work, and it was further held | that four inspectors were not sufficient* for / the work they were cxpected to perform.— The chairman said it was news to the board that its by-lawS 'were not carried out. Inspector Knox had reported, in i response to an inquiry ftom the board, I that there were no unlicensed plumbers I doing work in the district. If the deputation would give concrete cases of breach J, of by-laws they would be inquired into. — After the deputation had retired, the chairman said inquiries would be made from the inspectors on the whole matter.—Mr Arkle asked, Did the board not require that, in the interests of the -public, every work must be passed by its inspectors?— The chairman replied in the affirmative.— Mr Belcher remarked that if the statements made by the deputation were correct the by-laws were being broken. —The questions brought up bv the deputation were referred to the Executive Committee for a Teport.