ALLEGED PLUMBING RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1529, 27 August 1912, Page 6

ALLEGED PLUMBING RING.

AT LOWER HUIT. At last nigkfs meeting of Lower Hutt Borougn Council a deputation ot carpenters and joiners waited upon tuo council, to suggest that a municipal plumber be employed, with a view or clieelcing Hie prices of (iVain-laying and plumbing in connection with Hutt ratepayers' property. Tlio tjiiestion had arisen ' out ol press correspondence. Councillor Ball introduced tb6 deputation. Air. King stated that it was. held that the prices charged by Hutt plumbers were too high. 11' the 'council would inaugurate a municipal plumbing works, the prices would be kept down. Ono plumber 1 had admitted to him that it was necessary to charge high prices iu order to eopo with bad debts. lie suggested that it' the prices were controlled the council could go further with their assistance to ratepayers in connecting with the sewerage scheme. He believed that the local plumbers had a ring, and he hoped that the council would make an exhaus.Vvo inquiry. Sir. luck said that he knew of a case where \)to contract price was Is. 3d. per foot to lay the pipes, but when tho bill was presented it proved to be just double that price. Mr. Tressider stated that a resident had the drainage laid, and he (tho speaker) had only had nine more feet laid than the neighbour, yet his account was £7 18s. more. Jlrl Hayes urged that a'municipal plumber should bo employed, especially for ratepayers • who received assistance from tho council. Councillor Kenipthorno pointed out that in all cases where assistanco was granted the engineer checked tho tender, and if it came within tho estimate, it was proceeded with. Mr. Shield (a master plumber) was invited to speak. He said that Mr. Buck and his misguided friends were looking for cheap plumbing. In regard to Mr. Tressider's case, the plumber who had fitted up tho house had lost money on tho job. If the council decided to engage a -municipal plumber, the Hutt Association- would join the 'Wellington Association, and prices would bo bumped tip another 25 per cent. He could not see where the grievance of the deputation came in. The association was not a charitable institution, and as thft. price of material was high, so the plumbing charges naturally increased. A member of the deputation:-."Did you not say that high prices had to be clinrged owing to bad debts?" Mr. Shields: "No, I did not. It was Mr. Wat-burton." Councillor Ball asked why Mr. Shield had brought his connection with this matter under tho notice of liis employer. Mr. Shield' denied that he had done so, but stated that in conversation with a member of tho samo firm tho matter had been discussed. Councillor Ball submitted that it was not fair to attack a public man privately. The Mayor: "Mr. Shield has given an explanation." Councillor Ball: "I say that that explanation was incorrect. Will Mr. Shield deny that ho said to me, 'I've a good mind to go to your general manager over this affair?'" The Mayor: "That is not a. matter for us. You must go elsewhere to settle such matters." Councillor Kompthortio contended that tho council should not concern itself with the ma liter, as long as the price was under the estimate. Councillor Hawthorn argued that lie had had many accounts with plumbers, and never once bad lite prices been too high: -After some further discussion it was resolved to hold ■ a special meeting next Monday night-to thoroughly go into tho question. In reply lo one of the deputation, theMayor said Ihal only the members of the council would.bf allowed to take- part in tlio dNrussinn. but ratepayers could put iu -'their grievances in writing, and the whole tbjuk would be sens iito. :".?l.