Plumbers Concerned At Shortage Of Earthenware

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 21

Plumbers Concerned At Shortage Of Earthenware

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, Mar. 7. The time had come for a thorough overhaul of the import system in New Zealand and a “more realistic” view would have to be taken in this regard, the member of Parliament for Timaru (Sir Basil Arthur) told the annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Master Plumbers at the Bay Hall today. “As long as we suffer balance of payments difficulties there will need to be some form of import control. In your trade there are many frustrations because of the need for such control, and 1 believe the need will be with us for some years to come.”

“However,” Sir Basil Arthur added, “there is need for reassessment as to what is necessary to import and what is not; but my feeling is that the requirements of the plumbers’ profession are absolutely essential. The health of the community is, to a large extent, in your hands,” he said.

In his address, the president (Mr A. G. Foley) said shortages of sanitary earthenware had disturbed the industry. Homes had been held up for occupation because toilet facilities were not available: maintenance work could not be carried out promptly; and unhealthy delays occurred, especially in fast developing areas. He said there was a need for more sanitary earthenware to be imported, and if the Government could not provide sufficient licences for this purpose, perhaps it could persuade some overseas manufacturer to establish a plant in New Zealand on a small scale to manufacture the industry’s needs. “It became increasingly apparent that the master plumbers and their employees must determine the future of the plumbing trade in New Zealand,” the report said. “It is obvious that our present manufacturer has not the capacity to provide the country’s requirements,” the president added. Mr Foley referred to the happy relationship which existed between the federation and the New Zealand Plumbers’ and Gasfttters’ Union of Workers. Apprenticeships In his annual report, the president said the Commission of Inquiry into Vocational Training, reporting on submissions on apprenticeship matters, did not give to the country the lead the industry and other industries had awaited in respect of the training of apprentices and other entrants to the trades. Delegates Welcomed A welcome was extended to the 59 delegates and visitors by the president of the South Canterbury Master Plumbers’ Association (Mr L. G. Williams) and the Deputy-Mayor of Timaru (Cr. S. R. Bennett). A striking feature of the decorations in the Bay Hall, in which conference business will be conducted until Friday, is a display arranged by the host association consisting of a galvanised iron tank in which a fountain plays in a charming setting of Summerhill stone, African marigolds and bright red salvia.