MASTER PLUMBERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 8

MASTER PLUMBERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. j The annual conference of the New Zealand Federation of Master Plumbers was opened yesterday at the Employers’ Association rooms, Cashel Street, Air W- Dean presiding. The visitors were welcomed by Air W. CLarge. Delegates present- were:--Auckland, | Messrs F. Hoffman, A. B. Swales, W. j S. Fisher and T. B. King; Dunedin, J .1 . I) I*. Walker and G.Dver; ; Wellington. W. Judd. S. M’lvor and A. Rarascv; Invercargill, Alt Frederick j and E. Stalker: Christchurch, W- j Oborn. D. O’Connell and W. Karasev. ; Messrs AY. Mack (Wellington), T. G. Bussell 'Ashburton) and several Christ-' dnrclt ma ter plumbers also attended. Air W. Large (Christchurch) extended a welcome to the visitors on behalf lof the Christchurch master plumbers. [ The compliment was acknowledged by I Messrs Ramsay, Stalker, Fisher, [ Walker and Douglas. ! Reports on sanitation and work in I each centre were read by the various I district representatives, and were reI ferred to a special committee for conI side ration. Tho annual report and balance-sheet i submitted by the executive showed a large increase in membership and a sound financial position. The report further dealt with tho shortage o? ‘radesmen throughout the Dominion and the necessity for providing facilities for more boys being n-armitted to engage in the trade, otherwise importation *would he to meet the growing j demands of the Dominion as constitntI ed under the Public Health and Plumbers Registration Act. Reports submitted on Technical Ool- ! lecre instruction stated that in some ! schools students were required to at- ; tend on four evenings each week, and ;on another evening to attend their j military duties. It was considered that ] several subjects, such as chemistry, i arithmetic, algebra, mathematics, etc., : could bo placed in a higher grade, and \ thus curtail the subjects and time rej ouire/1 from lads m their earlv life. In . this direction the federation decided to j approach the technical authorities in j the various centres. j It was further decided that each Em--1 plovers’ Union ho recommended to j establish a library' on plumbing, heatj ing and sanitation, and that each union I of employers arrange for lectures to apprentices and plumbers.