'SHORT CUT' TRADESMEN CRITICISED

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 52, 2 July 1974, Page 3

'SHORT CUT' TRADESMEN CRITICISED

Tradesmen who take short cuts on the job have come in for some criticism in the annual report of the Taupo county health and building inspector, Mr W.E. Watters. "It is a sad commentary that we experience far more difficulty with tradesmen who are required by law to be properly trained, examined and registered — plumbers and drainlayers — than with those who are not (builders)," he said. Mr Watters said the county had had to take a "tougher line" with tradesmen because of the amount of work performed by plumbers and drainlayers without first obtaining a permit. They were now required to uplift their permits from the county council offices. "With the introduction of new materials and methods, the work of plumbers and drainlayers has become substantially easier than it was a few years ago, but tradesmen

still endeavour to take short cuts," he said. "One registered plumber who has given a great deal of trouble over many years was reported to the Plumbers and Gas Fitters' Registration Board. "The board appointed an investigator, and the tradesman was eventually 1 suspended for six months." Mr Watters welcomed the Health Department's decision to allow the Health Inspectors' Institute and the Plumbing Inspectors' Institute to be represented on the drainage and plumbing revision committee. The committee is to be a continuing- one, to keep the drainage and plumbing regulations and associated Codes of Practice up to date when new materials or methods are introduced. "Apart from making allowance for new materials since the regulations were brought out in 1959, the draft of the new regulations follows the traditional conservative approach to drainage and plumbing in New Zealand," Mr Watters said.