Over-Charging For ’Quake Repairs

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 1

Over-Charging For ’Quake Repairs

(New Zealand Press Association >

BLENHEIM, May 11

Some tradesmen repairing earthquake damage at Seddon, Ward, and Blenheim had exploited householders, an Earthquake and War Damage Commission assessor, Mr E. S. Young, of Blenheim, said today.

Some tradesmen had come from Gore and Christchurch. They were doing a tradesmanlike job, but they were over-charging, he said. Before quoting for work they usually asked what their customer’s earthquake damage assessment was. The cost

of the job would then be the full amount of this assessment.

Mr Young said two bricklayers, using the old bricks, had charged £35 for repairing a chimney. The job took one day and the price worked out at £2 5s 5d an hour a i man. That was exploitation. The £35 was the exact amount of the damage assessment. Mr Young said he did not want to see householders, particularly elderly people, fall into this trap. Assessors, who included local builders, were being accused of assessing damage too low. The blame rested not with them, but with tradesmen who were ccharging too much.

Mr Young said many of the tradesmen working in the area were not overcharging. But advised householders to ask them fo- a quotation for the repairs, but nottodi sclose the assessment.