PLUMBERS' LICENSES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 69, 30 June 1910, Page 7

PLUMBERS' LICENSES

THE BOROUGH AND CERTIFICATES. At the Education Board meeting on Tuesday evening the following letter was read from Mr. W. A. Ballantyne, Director of Technical Education:—"! would respectfully point out that 1 have at different times received complaints from students attending the plumbing classes at the Technical School with the intention of qualifying themselves for theory arid practice of their trade that though the Borough Council has in its by-laws provided that licenses will be issued only to those plumbers who shaU produce certificates that they have passed a recognised examination in practical and theoretical plumbing, yet in spite of this provision it has made a practice of issuing licenses to those who do not hold such certificates. If this is so then it will be readily understood there is little incentive offered to plumbers to devote their time and energy in qualifying themselves by examination. I am satisfied that as the Council has always shown a desire to support the Technical School, it is only necessary for the Board to lay the matter before that body to have it arranged that in future no new license be granted to any plumber who does not hold the required by the by-laws. It should be clearly understood that I do not wish to refer to those who have been practising their trade for a number of years and who are certainly entitled to a license/' Mr. Ballantyne, in speaking to the letter, stated that whereas now there were only four plumbing students at the Technical School, there would probably ,oe twenty if the borough by-laws on the matter were strictly enforced. The Borough Council supported the Technical School, and no doubt all that was required was to draw their attention to the matter. It was resolved that the l'eeommendation be 'given effect to.