REGISTRATION OF CLUMBERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 6

REGISTRATION OF CLUMBERS.

THE CITY ENGINEER'S VIEWS. ' Mr. W. H. Morton, City Eftgmcer, was asked by a representative of tljiss journal to. ; comment on the proposal for a tem of examination and registration 1 of - plumbors throughout the Dominion'/' It will be remembered that such a sqhonio was 1 _ urged upon Dr. Mason, Chief Health;,Officcr,' last week by a deputation of and ' ( that lie re'urned a sympathetic tinsijer. Mr. Morton is fuljy convinced of tli3 de- -' sirability of uniformity in this matter)', but ■ ho , thinks it would bo better attained through this technical schools and Iccal'authorities than through the Health Department, or any authority that might be,*established witli tho Department as the control-' ling factor. Ho suggests that the technical; schools in the four chief cities could agreo: . to,toko turns in proscribing tho examination,, which could bo held simultaneously in each, of the centres. A similar system is already' in operation over tho whole of. Australasia in connection with surveyors' examinations. Here in Wellington tho plumbers'; examinations are under the control of a Board, which conipiiscs the Director of the Technical School, the City Engineer, and repre- • sentativos of the master plumbers and journeymen. The examinations are of two grades, one for journeymen and another of wider scope for masters. 'Mr. Morton states that the system is working very sUtisfac torily. He fears thai, such a general scheme as ban been outlined in Government Bills !. would afford a loophole for men, with insufli-, cicrit 'qualifications to obtain the privileges of registration, and ho sets his face firmly against ai:y lowering of the. standard of efficiency amongst a class of tradesmen whose work is of such great importance to publii health and municipal economy,