The Inspector and the Plumber

Chronicle (Levin), 10 February 1949, Page 9

The Inspector and the Plumber

4 r NEW PLYMOUTH; Feb. 9. The possibility that under the HealthDepartiment's new trainink scheme for inspectors, unregistered plumbers with no practical experience would be directing pliimbing work thTOughout New Zealand, was raised in a xemit to the confe?ence of the Neyj Zealand Master Plumbers' Federation in New PlymOuth today. Beferenee was made to a recent advertisement by the department offering a year 's technical training to applicants for the position of health inSpector.' The miniinum qualifi,cation wpuld- be two years' secondary education and during-the training period the applieant would be paid £300. per annum. He would then be appointed as lnspector, subject to an exattiination, at a commeneing rate of £275. Gon'cern was expressed at the anomaly. which would arise if this scheme weire put_ into operation. A plumher with a lifetime of experieence would, it was stated, be subject to direction from an inspector with little or no praetical knowledge. What was required was some form of appeal to a praetical maii when necess.ary, particularly in the ease of a uispute between the inspector and plumber. The position will be detailed ,to the Minlster of Health with a request that plumbers should be safeguarded' against unnecessary interference by inexperieneed' inspectors.