DRAIN LAYING

Southland Times, Issue 16786, 14 July 1911, Page 6

DRAIN LAYING

TOWN COUNCIL'S STANDARD. THE PLUMBERS’ PROTEST. In their report to the Town Council last night the Public Works Committee favoured the Corporation undertaking the whole of the drain-laying in the borough (from the public drain to the outside of the house), and they recommended that the Town Engineer be instructed to prepare standard plans with a scale of charges to include testing, etc., the District Health Officer to be informed accordingly. When tins particular clause of the report came up for discussion a letter from the Master Plumbers’ Association was considered in conjunction with it. The Association stated that they understood that the committee proposed to recommend that the whole of the drainage work of the borough be undertaken by the Corporation. This would, they said,, considerably affect the plumbing and drain-laying trade. and he asked that this matter be delayed because they could not see any advantage to the ratepayers or to the Council in it. No other large town of the Dominion, they said, had a system such as was suggested, and to all intents and purposes the drains and laying of same were perfectly satisfactory, and. under competent supervision and by-laws they could see no reason why the work should not he left to the trade, as on the score of expense the competition in the trade would secure for the ratepayers the work at cheapest prices. The Mayor mentioned that at the last examination held for drain-laying none of the candidates had passed. The Engineer hoped that there would be a more satisfactory showing at the next examination. If the Council undertook the work as suggested they would have to instruct men specially. The committee thought that it would be better for the Corporation officials to lay the drains, and thus save possible expense to householders later on. Cr Bain moved that the clause be adopted, and Cr Hawke seconded It. It was pointed out that drain-laying was not plumbers’ work, and the proposal would not interfere with them. At the present time the Council put in all the drains: in the street and surely they were just as competent to put in the rest of the outside work. Cr Bain said that some of the plumbers had remarked that they were very pleased the Council proposed to take the work over. They were often asked by contractors to do drain-laying and they did not care to lake it over. Cr Lonnie remarked that the propose! would ensure a uniform system of drain-laying. Cr Liilicrap intimated that he was not opposed to the motion, but it introduced a new matter evidently of considerable importance. It might bo just as well to hold it over in the meantime. It was possible that the Council might trench on matters affecting the plumbing trade, and it was just as well to give them an opportunity lo he hoard. It was advisable to have the question ventilated. Cr Moffett seconded Cr Lilllcrap's amendment, that the question he held over for a fortnight, as there was evidently some misapprehension. The Mayor pointed out that the clause was ouite non-committal. Cr Baird declared that the ratepayers would he very pleased to see the Corporation take the work over, and Cr Fleming also supported the motion for the adoption of the clause. The amendment Mas rejected, and the clause was adopted. DRA T X IX SPECTI OX. The Council's Sanitary Inspector (Mr E. .1. Murdoch) reported that lie hud made a house to house drain inspection in North Invercargill, and had found that there were 15!) with efficient drains, connected and trapped. Houses witii traps of an obsolete pattern, or no traps, amounted to G5. and houses without any drainage 51. He found several drains blocked, and in an insanitary state, and in each ease notified the agent or owner to repair or renew in accordance with tiie regulations. The 51 houses referred to as being without drainage, the great majority of which wore the first built houses in North Invercargill, were mostly occupied by very poor people, many of whom were dependent on tlie old Age Pension for a. living. To enforce the by-law there would he a very sore matter, as the regulation drain would cost at least £1 per chain. Persons who had houses to let. and others who were well able to comply with the regulations, would be compelled to do so. A number of notices had b<(m served, ami in many cases the work had already been done.