Connell Brian: Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Bill — In Committee 
Connell Brian: Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:635;Page:6672] 
BRIAN CONNELL (National—Rakaia) 
: 
 I was in my office listening to the debate and found it so enthralling that I thought I would come down and make a contribution. The reason is that I have some experience with the plumbing industry—and I declare a conflict of interest upfront—in that I own a company that manufactures hot-water cylinders. My company has been in business for 45 years and my association with the plumbing industry and the history of my company in that association is one that deserves recognition. 
Registration as prescribed in the Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Bill is overdue but that is not to tarnish the reputation of those people who have been in the industry for a long time. In fact it provides them with the due credit they deserve because here is an industry if there ever has been one that is worthy of our respect. Anyone who has had something go wrong with their plumbing recognises the need not only to get someone who is competent to fix it but also as an added advantage to get someone who is registered and is able to do the job and can give that guarantee of quality service that the community deserves. That is the type of tradesperson we in this country respect. 
I heard the Minister say in an earlier debate that he is an electrician by trade and I think he takes pride in the fact that he has that recognition. Is it not as reasonable to give that recognition to the plumbing industry as well? So here is a bill that in my view is long overdue. 
When I had the opportunity to sit on the Commerce Committee on the bill I was very impressed with the way members of Parliament interacted. They were taking the issue extremely seriously. The contribution from members around the table was one that gave me confidence that the parliamentary process does at times work well. Of course I think the lead was coming from the National members on the select committee. My colleagues there were taking the issues extremely seriously. They were putting issues on the table and saying that we needed to work around them to make sure we structured a bill that would work not for the time being but for the longer term. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: There is too much idle chatter going on. It is very disconcerting for the member who is trying to address the Committee. 
BRIAN CONNELL 
: I apologise for my idle chatter Mr Chairperson. I will give you something a little more specific. 
One issue in the select committee really triggered my interest—that is the lack of apprentices who have qualified through the registration board. That really did trip my interest. I know that members of the select committee took that issue extremely seriously. Some of the statistics I saw showed that pass rates were as low as 11 percent in terms of qualifications. That in itself is a real indictment on the way the industry was being structured and something had to be done about that. I congratulate the committee on taking that issue head-on. 
I know that the Minister takes these issues extremely seriously as well and it might be something he would like to take a call on and explain how we will do more about tightening up registration around the plumbing industry so that the competence I have talked about can be captured in perpetuity. I thank you for your indulgence Mr Chair.